Through the Kebaya

‘Through the Kebaya: A cross-cultural project, Indonesia & Australia’ is a Master of Visual Arts research project completed in 2004 at Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.  The video-performance based project, which took place in Java, Bali and Darwin, encompassed an extensive programme of workshops and exhibitions with wide media coverage, several catalogue essays, a journaled paper, a number of video works and a power-point presentation which accompanied the final written thesis.

Tamasya Kebaya, video performance installation, NTU Gallery, Darwin 2002

The project examines the kebaya, a traditional blouse for women in Indonesia, in its multiple aesthetic forms, functions and meanings, utilising it as a tool through which to explore constructions of cultural identity and change, in particular in relation to aspects of the ‘feminine’.


Whose Kebaya, anyway? Lokita Digital Photo Video Still, Batungsel, Bali, 2003

Kebaya Mix, Murni Video Still, Bali, 2003


Thesis ‘Through the Kebaya: A cross-cultural project, Indonesia & Australia’ 

Digital copy of Master of Visual Arts Thesis ‘Through the Kebaya: A cross-cultural project, Indonesia & Australia’ available. Request via Email: info@victoriacattoni.net


Power Point Show

‘Through the Kebaya’ Power-Point Show is a visual map of the research project and accompanies the written thesis.

Download: Powerpoint (5.4 MB)


Essays & Text by other writers:

Agung Hujatnikajennong, 2003 “Decoding the Veils of Meaning of ‘Kebaya’” (English Translation), (exh.cat.), Membaca Kebaya, Galeri Lontar – Jakarta, Rumah Proses – Bandung, Universitas Diponegoro – Semarang, Indonesia. Download (96 KB)
Original Bahasa Indonesia version “Menyingkap Selubung Makna “Kebaya”’. Download (80 KB)

Asikin Hasan, 2003 “The Kebaya, in Parts” (English Translation) (exh.cat.), Membaca Kebaya, Galeri Lontar – Jakarta, Rumah Proses – Bandung, Universitas Diponegoro – Semarang, Indonesia]. Download (72 KB)
Original Bahasa Indonesia version “Dalam Fragmen Kebaya”. Download (80 KB)

Krisna Murti, 2002 “Tamasya Kebaya” (English Translation) (exh.cat.), Tamasya Kebaya, NTU Gallery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. Download (76 KB)
Original Bahasa Indonesia version “Tamasya Kebaya”. Download (64 KB)

Julia Suryakusuma, 2003 “Kontradiksi Kebaya”, Opening Speech, Membaca Kebaya, Galeri Lontar – Jakarta, Indonesia”. Download (76 KB)
English Translation “Contradiction of the Kebaya””. Download (80 KB)


Essays & Writing by Victoria Cattoni:

Cattoni, V 2005 “Kedai Kebaya”, (exh.cat.) Kedai Kebaya, Art Space Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. Download (96 KB)

Cattoni, V 2005, ‘Behind “Through the Kebaya”’, Artery, vol 1 Issue1, May, Museums & Gallery Services Queensland Ltd., pp.12-13. Download (116 KB)

Cattoni, V 2004, ‘Through the Kebaya’, Update, Issue Number 24, Regional Galleries Association of Queensland, Brisbane

Cattoni, V 2004, ‘Reading the Kebaya’, Cribb, Robert (ed.), 2004, Asia Examined: Proceedings of the 15th Biennial Conference of the ASAA, 2004, Canberra, Australia. Canberra: Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) & Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies (RSPAS), The Australian National University Canberra,
http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/biennial-conference/2004/Cattoni-V-ASAA2004.pdf (2.2 MB)




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