colorful decor

Perfect for a dedicated yoga space, this attractive banner celebrates the health benefits and mental clarity of this traditional spiritual practice. Seven rayon flags align to depict various yoga poses, created with the traditional batik technique. The flags represent the Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana, Natarajasana, Marichyasana, Adho mukha svanasana and stiff bow yoga positions. Which are your favorites?

West African artisan Samuel Ashong's original batik artwork depicts a strong group of five women titled "Debt Collectors." Often in the marketplace, friends rely upon each other to help right any wrongs they've suffered. Ashong explains the power of these women who get their point across without speaking a word: "The body language of the debt collectors is a clear indication to the debtor. They do not give any demand notice but the debt is paid in no time." In warm tones of maize, tangerine and vermilion contrasted with chestnut brown and black accents, this batik art will be a vibrant addition to any room.

Traditional yellow kawung and red parang motifs decorate this set of four ornaments from Java. Celebrating Indonesian handicrafts, Gunadi presents these ornaments, carved from wadang wood in the shape of hearts. The designs are applied using the batik method; a wax resist is applied before colorful dyes are added. Afterward, the wax is boiled away.

Using a painstaking batik technique, Ghanaian artist K. Baka decorates black cotton cloth by drawing on it with a wax resist, then applying colorful dyes. This wall hanging depicts a woman at the lake, leaning over to fetch water to bring back to her family.

Against a yellow background, a mother carries her child on her back, flanked by the Adinkra symbol Gye Nyame, which signifies the supremacy of God. Ghanaian artist K. Baka creates this lovely wall hanging. Crafted from cotton, this long wall hanging is decorated using the batik method, where a wax resist is hand-painted onto the fabric before it is treated with colorful dyes.

Bold and imposing, an African mask centers this colorful wall hanging. K. Baka works in batik on cotton to create the bright tapestry. On the mask's forehead is an adinkra symbol known as akoban — "war horn" in the Twi language. "Akoban is used to sound a battle cry. It is a symbol of vigilance and wariness," the artisan explains.