Among the many particular skills that are possessed by craftsmen in rural villages of Tasikmalaya is producing bamboo veneer manually, and laminating the veneers into seamless ‘frames’. However, the products that apply the ‘frames’ could not present the actual potentials of the craftsmanship and the bamboo frames. This design attempts to use and expose the particular skill of producing bamboo frames and apply them to a contemporary product that fits the lifestyles of current, urban users. This postman bag, branded TARAJE, has come out as one of the results. More products with a similar production concept are still being developed.

TARAJE: laminated bamboo, framing a postman bag

TARAJE: closing up on the bamboo frame

Design: M. Ihsan

An experiment to create bamboo products with appearances uncommon to what we have seen so far in Indonesia has resulted in the following forms.

An arrangement of bamboo 'ribbons', sliced delicately

Sliced ribbons, top view

Bamboo strips, laminated and mold into a desired form, exhibited at Campus Center ITB

Laminated & molded bamboo strips, closed-up

These experiments are conducted by Deny Willy & Apikayu Foundation

A meticulous crafting skill is needed in the production of this prototype. Stripes of bamboo veneer are slightly sliced at the sides, so they can be attached to each other, forming a bigger tubular shape that functions as a lamp cover.

LAMPION, closed-up

LAMPION, exhibited at Campus Center ITB

Design: Deny Willy/ Apikayu Foundation

This lighting set is made of bamboo veneer as its basic material. The veneer was produced manually, with a particular crafting skill that is gradually diminishing,  and is usually applied as an additional, insignificant element of a product. It was a pity, since bamboo veneer actually possesses superior characters, if explored properly. This KRANG product attempts to prove the actual potentials of bamboo veneer, a material that is previously considered as inferior.

KRANG, exhibited at Campus Center ITB

Design: Deny Willy/ Apikayu Foundation

The design of these eating utensils are based on bamboo veneer as the main production material. This design was among the shortlisted in AwiAwiMandiri, a bamboo product design competition held by Saung Angklung Udjo in 2009.

Pincuk Set, exhibited at Campus Center ITB

Pincuk Set, exhibited at Campus Center ITB

If you’d use one, first put a layer of banana leaf on the ‘plate’ as a base for the food. You’d hold the Pincuk ‘plate’ with one hand, and you may eat the food either directly with your other hand, or use one of the folded bamboo-veneer cutlery. The perfect kind of food is the typical Indonesian snacks, which are often accompanied by thick sauce and served in bite-sizes. Wouldn’t it be more appetizing if you enjoy your meals with one of these sets?

Design: M. Ihsan, A. Syarief