Hononga Wall Hanging: Tropical Julang
Artworks
Monumental in scale and rich with story, Tropical Julang is the hero work of FLOX’s Sumba Collection — an immersive, hand-painted piece created by FLOX during her Artist in Residence experience on the island.
Painted directly onto a sheer, lightweight cloth, the work is suspended using natural fibres sourced and dyed from local ikat-weaving communities, physically connecting the finished artwork back to the people, materials and traditions FLOX encountered during her time in Sumba.
At its centre is the native Julang bird, surrounded by an abundant tropical landscape of banana palms, orchids and island botanicals. Colour, movement and intricate layering bring the composition to life, while at the base of the work a richly painted field of indigo blue shifts the narrative from the natural world into storytelling.
Inspired by the extraordinary textiles of Sumba, this patterned section pays homage to the island’s centuries-old tradition of ikat weaving and natural indigo dyeing. Within it, FLOX has woven her own visual recollections of Sumbanese life, landscape and mythology — a tapestry of symbols and stories gathered throughout her residency.
Julang is both artwork and record: a celebration of an extraordinary place, the people who welcomed FLOX into it, and the stories, colour and craftsmanship she carried home.
Medium: Hand Painted Stencil / Spray Paint on Woven Cloth / Driftwood / Ikat Fibres
Dimensions: 960mm x 2600mm (cloth only) / 980mm x (with Ikat hanger)
Engraved Wooden FLOX wall hanger included