Borobudur is a magnificent Buddhist temple complex in Central Java, Indonesia, that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries. It is one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage monuments in the world.

One of the most distinctive features of Borobudur is its stupas, which are hemispherical structures that contain statues of the Buddha. There are 72 stupas in total, arranged around three circular platforms and a central dome. They are symbolic representations of the Buddhist cosmology and correspond to different levels of existence: the base for desires, the body for forms, and the top for formlessness.

The stupas at Borobudur are not only religious symbols, but also artistic expressions of Javanese culture and history. They are decorated with intricate reliefs that depict scenes from Buddhist scriptures, Javanese mythology, royal genealogy, flora and fauna, and everyday life.

It is these stupas that inspired the structure and design of the Borobudur vessel. It is an almost entirely self-supporting vessel woven completely with seed beads. Below the lid is the lattice design that is found on the stupas of the Borobudur temple complex.

This masterclass will explore how to build structures, apply multi-layering of different beadwork techniques, creating vessels with multiple levels of storage as well as how to create strength for self-supporting structures.

DIMENSIONS

Height : 17.5cm (6.75")

Width : 9.5 cm (3.75")