Photo: Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the preparation of profile books on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (IKM) engaged in textile and metal crafts in Gianyar Regency, Friday (18 September), at the Kirtya Sabha Mahottama Auditorium.
Institut Seni Indonesia Bali (ISI BALI), in collaboration with the Gianyar Regency Department of Industry and Trade, held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled “Gina-Jnana-Guna (The Charisma of Knowledge and Mastery)” on Friday (18 September). Held at the Kirtya Sabha Mahottama Auditorium, Citta Kelangen Building, 3rd Floor, ISI BALI, the activity formed part of the process of preparing profile books on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (IKM) engaged in textile and metal crafts in Gianyar Regency.
The FGD was organized to deepen and document the rich craft heritage of Gianyar, encompassing the taxonomy of textile and metal crafts, the historical development of craft enterprises, production capacity, and the resilience of IKM practitioners in responding to various challenges and changes within the industry. This in-depth exploration is expected to strengthen documentation while providing an overview of the potential development of Gianyar’s textile and metal craft industries in the future.
In his remarks, the Rector of ISI BALI, Prof. Dr. Wayan ‘Kun’ Adnyana, stated that the process of engaging directly with business owners and artisans demonstrates the considerable potential of Gianyar’s craft sector for continued development. The research teams from the Craft Study Program and Design Study Program at ISI BALI also identified various forms of evidence demonstrating the resilience of IKM practitioners amid changes in the business environment.
Photo: Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the preparation of profile books on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (IKM) engaged in textile and metal crafts in Gianyar Regency, Friday (18 September), at the Kirtya Sabha Mahottama Auditorium.
“The in-depth exploration conducted with our resource persons, including entrepreneurs and small- and medium-scale artisans, increasingly demonstrates that Gianyar possesses significant potential for continued development in the future. We identified various facts and experiences that illustrate how IKM practitioners have maintained the sustainability of their businesses amid a range of challenges, from increasingly intense competition and limitations and shortages of raw materials to the emergence of new industries. Their ability to adapt, innovate, and preserve inherited craft knowledge constitutes an important element of their resilience. These findings are therefore essential to understanding the future of Gianyar’s craft sector,” he explained.
The findings of the study were subsequently developed into two books: Sawen Wastra Gianyar, which presents the profiles of 20 selected IKM enterprises and textile artisans, and Tatah Logam Titah Leluhur, which documents selected IKM enterprises and metal artisans in Gianyar Regency.
The Chairperson of the Gianyar Regency Regional Council of the National Craft Council (Dekranasda), Dr. Surya Adnyani Mahayastra, who officially opened the FGD, emphasized the importance of documenting and preserving Gianyar’s craft heritage, particularly as Gianyar has been recognized as a World Craft City.
“As a World Craft City, Gianyar possesses a rich craft heritage that must be continuously safeguarded and preserved. The challenge is not merely to maintain inherited works, but also to ensure that the knowledge, skills, and values associated with them remain alive and can be transmitted to future generations. Therefore, the collaboration between the Gianyar Regency Government and ISI BALI in preparing these books represents an important step toward comprehensively documenting Gianyar’s craft and textile heritage. Through this FGD, the direct experiences and knowledge of artisans can be collected as a basis for formulating more appropriate development strategies, while also providing valuable input for the Gianyar Regency Government in sustaining, advancing, and expanding appreciation for Gianyar’s craft and textile heritage,” she stated.
Photo: Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the preparation of profile books on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (IKM) engaged in textile and metal crafts in Gianyar Regency, Friday (18 September), at the Kirtya Sabha Mahottama Auditorium.
The Chairperson of the Book Preparation Team, Nyoman Dewi Pebryani, ST., MA., Ph.D., presented an update on the development of the two books, which are being prepared by a team of 12 researchers. Sawen Wastra Gianyar is intended to document the distinctive characteristics of Gianyar’s textile heritage, encompassing techniques, motifs, colors, and systems of knowledge transmission from one generation to the next. The book consists of three chapters addressing endek, songket, and textiles produced using natural dyes.
Meanwhile, Tatah Logam Titah Leluhur highlights the dedication of Gianyar’s metal artisans to preserving the traditional heritage of gold and silver engraving while simultaneously developing creative approaches to address contemporary needs. The book consists of four chapters covering kris and heirloom artisans; silver engraving for sesuhunan, wayang pacadatu, and sequences of uang kepeng, as well as the development of contemporary metal and silver crafts; branding innovations to expand market reach; and the development of metal crafts as souvenir products.
The FGD featured four resource persons representing the experiences and perspectives of practitioners in Gianyar’s textile and metal craft industries. Ni Nengah Sri Swarti Asih, owner of Sri Intan Jewelry, presented “Accessory Design Creativity and Sustainable Business Management.” This was followed by I Made Megayasa, Chairperson of the Celuk Design Center, who presented “Productivity and Capital Support for Metal Craft Industries.”
From the textile sector, Ida Bagus Adnyana, owner of Pertenunan Putri Ayu, presented “Innovation and Knowledge Transmission in Gianyar Weaving,” while Pande Nyoman Yori Pratana, the next-generation successor of Pertenunan Setia Cap Cili, addressed “Resilience and Regeneration of Gianyar Textile Artisans.”
These four perspectives enrich the preparation of the IKM profiles by documenting not only the products themselves, but also the knowledge, business experiences, regeneration processes, innovations, business management practices, and strategies employed by artisans to sustain their enterprises.
Through this FGD, Sawen Wastra Gianyar and Tatah Logam Titah Leluhur are being developed as more than conventional profile books. Both publications are expected to serve as documentation of Gianyar’s rich craft heritage, particularly in the textile and metal sectors, while also functioning as instruments for preserving the knowledge and traditions of artisans so that they can be transmitted to future generations.
The two books are also expected to serve as promotional resources for leading IKM products in Gianyar Regency, reaching local communities, tourists, collectors, and broader markets. At the same time, the documentation is expected to strengthen the identity and distinctive characteristics of Gianyar products by highlighting the relationship between craftsmanship, creativity, culture, and ancestral values.
Furthermore, the findings of the study are expected to serve as a reference for the development of Gianyar’s IKM sector, particularly in relation to artisan regeneration, design innovation, product quality enhancement, branding development, and expanded market access.
Thus, the preparation of these two books seeks not only to document what has been inherited but also to map how Gianyar’s craft knowledge and skills can continue to thrive, evolve, and be transmitted to future generations.
(ISI BALI/Public Relations)
