By Annabel Dobbyn Photograph by Sarah Goolishian When I tell strangers that I work in a textile conservation studio, I know exactly what will happen. A blank look eclipses their face. The whites of their eyes blow open and then they narrow. They unhinge their jaws and ask: what? It is a bit thrilling, possessing […]
Jakarta post #2: Everybody loves wet cleaning!
Everybody loves wet cleaning! Wet cleaning is called cuci, pronounced chuchee in Indonesian—and it means washing. Washing is a major part of our conservation project. After many years of exposure and city pollution, the Iwan Tirta batiks are dry and crispy, acidic and soiled. They desperately need cleaning to brighten the colors and neutralize the pH […]
