CHAT exhibition 'Tidal Weavers: Islands Exchange' fosters Southeast Asian artistic dialogue through residencies
From August 2 to October 26, 2025, the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT) in Hong Kong hosted 'Tidal Weavers: Islands Exchange,' under the curation of Ade Darmawan. This exhibition highlighted collaborations among grassroots groups from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Featured works included Yip Kai Chun's 'My Deity Wants Me to Wear This' (2025), Meita Meilita's embroidery alongside Kebalan elders, Chang En-Man's 'The Great Deluge: Oral History from Pacavalj' (2024), and Ma Wing Man Mandy's 'Where Moments Gather' (2025). Widi Asari's focus was on Indonesian domestic workers, while Darmawan presented 'Data Threads' (2025), which illustrated weaving techniques and statistical information. The CHAT 2025 Research Grant was awarded to Nick Yu and Junko Asano.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Tidal Weavers: Islands Exchange' at Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT) in Hong Kong
- Dates: August 2 to October 26, 2025
- Curated by Ade Darmawan
- Featured reciprocal artist exchanges between Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines
- Included works by Yip Kai Chun, Meita Meilita, Chang En-Man, Ma Wing Man Mandy, Widi Asari, and Ade Darmawan
- Explored themes of maritime trade, diaspora, language preservation, and textile traditions
- Collaborations with grassroots organizations like Susur Galur, Kebalan community, Riwanua, and Komunitas KAHE
- Inspired by Indonesia's archipelagic logic and aimed to reimagine Asian water-based identity
Entities
Artists
- Ade Darmawan
- Yip Kai Chun
- Meita Meilita
- Chang En-Man
- Ma Wing Man Mandy
- Widi Asari
- Nick Yu
- Junko Asano
- Mama Lin
Institutions
- Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile (CHAT)
- Susur Galur
- Riwanua
- Komunitas KAHE
- V54
Locations
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Taiwan
- Philippines
- Pontianak
- West Kalimantan
- Hualien
- Makassar
- Sulawesi
- Maumere
- Flores Island
- Sambas
- Tuban
- Sham Shui Po
- Bandung