Ine Lawo

Through Ine Lawo, I bring the hands of Ende’s women weavers—the guardians of our heritage—into global conversations about art, identity, and healing. I am Phengmunosha, an artist and creative director behind a social movement that amplifies the voices and artistry of indigenous weaving women in Ende, Flores, Indonesia.

I work as a mixed-media artist, using woven textiles, earth materials, wood charcoal, leftover textile scraps, and acrylic paint. To me, every material holds its own energy and story—of the land, the body, and cultural memory—woven together into a new visual language. My works are born from imagination, dreams, and ideals shaped by the human journey: buried emotions, quiet dreams, and deep reflections on resilience and transformation. I translate these inner landscapes into abstract forms, offering space for viewers to feel and interpret in their own way.

My creative path began with handwoven jewelry—earrings and necklaces dyed with natural pigments from our land. Over time, I expanded into bags, scarves, and abstract paintings made from small remnants of woven cloth, blending both natural and synthetic dyes.

My work continues the stories woven by the woven mother artisans—elder women who preserve ancestral techni...

Although I never attended formal art school, my creative journey began at the age of eight, when I discovered a love for painting during primary school. Over time, I became deeply inspired by the weaving culture of my home in Ende, Flores. I now work with traditional woven fabric (ikat weaving), using its leftover scraps not just as accents, but as the main expressive medium—replacing acrylic paint—while still working on canvas.

As a full-time midwife supporting mothers and children, I create art in between my work shifts, learning from everyday life and the women around me. I consider myself a self-taught artist grounded in lived experiences and culture. I’ve also participated in sustainable entrepreneurship training, which helped shape my art practice into one rooted in community, environment, and social impact.

2025 – Online Debut: “Growing in Silence” (Series I)
First 3 works from a 10-piece textile-based painting series uploaded on Saatchi Art.

(Upcoming) 2025 – “Growing in Silence” (Series II)
Completion of full 10-piece series exploring memory, strength, and healing through woven fabric