Creative Research Residency 2024

Bricking It

Developed with PRAKSIS, Don Lawrence, Andy Rahman, Professor Totok Noerwasito and Dr. I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra

Residency dates: 1 April - 30 April 2024

Traditional Indonesian temple brick requires no mortar: water and friction alone fuse the bricks together, creating structures that demonstrate remarkable flexibility and resilience. Because of this, many of Indonesia’s historic brick structures – the Wringin Lawang gate, the Pari Temple, and others – have withstood earthquakes for more than six centuries. In contrast, newer Indonesian buildings made from modern, Western-style brick and mortar have proved catastrophically less resistant to seismic disturbance.

Bricking It drew on Indonesian vernacular knowledge to explore the technology, history, aesthetics and potentials of traditional brick as a sustainable medium. Taking place at Samong Haven, it supported the development of our culture and learning centre. Residency participants will spent a month developing hands-on skills, building background knowledge and testing new concepts using brick. It brought together makers and researcher with related art, design, craft or industry knowledge and experience. Specialist input into the residency came from Indonesian architect Andy Rahman and senior researchers Professor Totok Noerwasito and Dr. I Nyoman Gede Maha Putra, who made visits to conduct soil testing, led brickmaking workshops and supervised an actual, construction on site.

The residents included Ellie Birkhead, Yohnes Ayra Duta,
Jon Haga Grov, Huzefah Haroon, Elise Hoebeke, Breanne Johnson, Tinsae Tsegahun Mengistu, Franscisco Susmel,
Julia Taonga Kaseka, and Rahman Akbar Sayekti.

The residency was supported by Nordic Culture Fund.

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