ROOTED

Rooted is an ongoing series by Tika that began with a quiet reckoning: the experience of being "tercerabut dari akar," pulled out from the root. It is a phrase that speaks to disconnection from nature, culture, heritage, community, and ultimately, from oneself. This series is Tika's practice in reconnecting with those threads. Working in mixed media, including acrylic, oil, oil pastel, and cotton spun, she builds layers of texture and depth, each piece unfolding like a gentle story told in color and fiber.

What makes this series so compelling is the way Batik patterns wind through every work. These are not mere decorative elements; they are living motifs, each line carrying generations of meaning. For Tika, weaving these patterns into her paintings is an act of honoring her Indonesian roots, but also an invitation. She offers viewers space to reflect on their own heritage, the quiet hidden threads that shape who we are and where we belong. Rooted does not pretend reconnection is easy. Instead, it traces the slow, tender work of finding one's way back.

Recovery

Both the woman and the water buffalo are draped in blankets adorned with Batik Tambal, a traditional Indonesian fabric whose name means “to patch up.” Long ago, this fabric was used to cover those who were ill, symbolizing care and protection. Recovery tells a story of gentle restoration and the tender moments that help us mend what has been broken.

Compassion

The woman in this painting wears a Javanese kebaya, a garment traditionally worn during weddings; moments that honor hope, connection, and new beginnings. Compassion tells the story of holding onto goodness even when the world feels heavy. It is a reminder that grace requires courage, and that staying kind is its own form of strength.

Delivery

The stork bears a lucky star as a symbol of hope, protection, and the belief that every new life arrives with purpose. Amid a complicated and often heavy world, the image speaks softly of beginnings and the light they bring. Surrounding this moment, Batik Truntum; a traditional Javanese star pattern, fills the sky. It representing love that grows quietly, steadily, and without end.

Harbinger

In old Javanese tales, a tiger that leaves its home for the village is a sign of catastrophe. This tiger awakens from slumber upon batik lung lungan, a motif rooted in the hope for a life that continuously grows. The painting rests in the space between warning and flourishing.

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