Ritual Cloth with Prancing Horses (Tampan) c. 19th century

This ritual cloth, or Tampan, was woven by Paminggir in Indonesia. Observe the prancing horses, centrally placed. Horses carry a rich symbolic load across cultures, often tied to power, virility, and the journey of life. These steeds remind me of those in ancient Greek friezes, or even the horses of the Apocalypse. The motif of the horse, spirited and untamed, has consistently stirred the human psyche. But here, they are juxtaposed with more static, architectural forms. These structures evoke a sense of home or temple, suggesting a link between the earthly journey and the sacred space. It is as if the conscious mind, represented by the dynamic horses, is in constant dialogue with the subconscious, the stable architecture of our inner selves. Notice how the symbols evolve, combine, and resurface, each time echoing something deeply embedded in our collective memory. Such is the enduring power of the image, a constant dance between past and present, conscious and unconscious.