Tristan Tanaya
Aug 26, 2026
At Bambu Indah, the relationship between people and place has always been at the heart of the experience. On 19 August, this philosophy took shape through IKIGAI, The Art of Creating Together, an intimate gathering at Tembaga celebrating the quiet beauty of craftsmanship, natural materials, and the knowledge carried through the human hand.
Bringing together Japanese makers and practitioners across tea, sound, silk, and material craftsmanship, IKIGAI explored a shared belief: the finest things are not simply made, they are cultivated, refined, and experienced over time.
Set within the natural architecture and landscape of Bambu Indah, the afternoon unfolded as a series of intimate encounters rather than a conventional exhibition. Guests were invited to experience the makers’ practices up close to listen to the resonance of hand-tuned bronze, discover the transformation of natural materials, witness traditional techniques, and share in rituals shaped by generations of knowledge.
THE ART OF CREATING TOGETHER
IKIGAI brought four distinct practices into one experience.
The Mindful Tea Ceremony by Master Soryo Matsumura opened the gathering through chanoyu, where tea becomes a medium for connection. Water, fire, vessels, season, space, gesture, host and guest come together to create a moment of presence.
The Precision of Form by MUJUN + COWKA explored the relationship between traditional Japanese bladesmithing and contemporary material innovation. A Japanese-forged gyuto was paired with a handle made from a composite derived from cattle manure, transforming an overlooked material into a refined and functional object.
The Resonance of Sound by Nanjo Kobo – LinNe brought the centuries-old tradition of Japanese orin bells into the space. Crafted from sahari bronze and tuned by ear, the bells created moments of stillness, inviting guests to experience sound as ritual, atmosphere, and presence.
The Thread of Nature by MORI WO ORU explored Japanese silk and the relationship between textile, nature, and ritual. Botanically dyed silk pieces reflected a quieter form of luxury—one defined by touch, material, time, and the intimate rituals of everyday life.
FROM CRAFT TO EXPERIENCE
As the afternoon moved into evening, IKIGAI continued around the table at Tembaga.
Over dinner, guests were invited to experience Weaving the Forest, a documentary exploring the making of MORI WO ORU’s silk and the people, materials, landscapes, and processes behind it.
The film offered a closer look at what is often invisible in a finished object: the time, knowledge, patience, and human hands that make it possible.
The evening was accompanied by a tea ceremony by Master Soryo Matsumura, bringing together film, tea, food, craft, and conversation in a single shared experience.
It was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon centred on the idea that making is not only about the final object, but about the relationships created along the way.
What made IKIGAI particularly at home at Bambu Indah was the resonance between the event and the place itself. Both are grounded in a respect for nature, material, craftsmanship, conscious living, and human connection.
At Bambu Indah, these values are expressed through architecture, landscape, hospitality, food, and design. At IKIGAI, they were expressed through the hands of makers. Together, they created an experience where the boundaries between art, design, nature, ritual, and everyday life became beautifully blurred.
Bambu Indah
Jl. Baung, Gianyar, Bali
Phone: +62 361 977922
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