Lyn Kirkland, an encaustic wax artist based on the Isle of Portland, is hosting Indonesian artist Ria Ekasari for an eight-day residency in St George’s as part of the British Council Indonesia’s Connections Through Culture programme.
Ms Kirkland said: “I am thrilled to be able to support her in this endeavour and promote this fascinating painting technique to a wider audience, whilst expanding my own understanding of the traditional art of Batik.”
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Ms Ekasari, who has worked in arts management in Jakarta for more than a decade, reached out to Ms Kirkland in autumn 2024 to explore a partnership for the grant application and to deepen her knowledge of encaustic painting.
She began exploring wax as a medium in 2018, focusing on natural materials like beeswax and the traditional damar resin sourced from Indonesian trees.
The pair are now working together in Ms Kirkland’s studio to explore the links between encaustic wax art and Batik, the ancient Indonesian wax-resist dyeing technique.
They aim to create new work that reflects both their artistic backgrounds and shared environmental concerns, particularly the effects of global warming in their respective home environments.
Ms Ekasari’s residency also coincides with the B-side Big Weekend, taking place from Thursday, September 11 to Sunday, September 14.
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She has been invited to deliver two public workshops at the Royal Manor Theatre, where participants will take part in a traditional Indonesian tea ceremony and create a Batik painting.
For details visit b-side.org.uk/events/batik-wax-imprints.
Ms Kirkland, who has taught encaustic wax art to students from around the world since 2015, recently hosted the first encaustic wax art retreat on the Jurassic Coast.
A member of the International Encaustic Artists group, she regularly exhibits her work both in the UK and abroad.
Ms Ekasari said that she views art not as a form of self-expression, but as a reflective practice that helps deepen her connection with nature and the world around her.
On returning to Jakarta, she plans to further develop Encaustic Indonesia and promote the art form in her home country.
