Ikat limar: analysis of form and design / Adline Abdul Ghani

The kain limar or ikat limar was once the fabric of Malay kings and queens, but it met its demise in the 1920s due to the lack of royal patronage, the competition of imported, machine woven luxury textiles, as well as changes in fashions, lifestyles and occupations. Despite being regarded as the finest products of the Malay handloom, very little is known about ikat limar because there are no written historical documents on its traditional manufacture and development. This research represents analyses undertaken to deepen understanding on ikat limar form and design, which seeks to provide an insight into the creative process and considerations undertaken by Malay artisans in the designing of ikat limar. Detailed analysis and cataloguing of ikat limar specimens were carried out to study their patterns and motifs. This yielded a database that facilitated in the analyses of form and design according to the fundamental elements of art and principles of design that are widely understood by contemporary learners and practitioners of art and design. Through these analyses, it becomes readily apparent that ikat limar design is complex, elaborate and well-organised. Though essentially working with a flat surface, ikat limar designers appear to have a great understanding of space, exploring it fully with the interplay of shapes and colours. The study also concludes that the main purpose of the detailed and careful organisation of design elements in ikat limar is to achieve unity in the formal construction of visual elements. This further reveals the artistic achievements and contributions of Malay artisans.