Bali & Java
Pine maracas, 'Fish' (pair)
Working with coconut shells, Ading transforms them into the traditional Latin American maracas, a kind of rattle. He adorns the polished surface with Balinese lele, a slender fresh water fish. The handle is carved of pinewood.
Mahogany harp guitar, 'Sea Turtle Song'
Ading crafts his own interpretation of a hybrid instrument in warm colors. Known on the island of Sumatra as a banjo guitar, it is shaped of mahogany. The sound box is crafted of a maja fruit while four steel strings attach to the curved neck.
Xylophone, 'Gilded Elegance'
The dark, gleaming tone of mahogany wood is lavishly accentuated with luminous golden leaf paint. Ading creates this handsome saron (a type of xylophone), also called gangsa jongkok.
Mahogany jambe drum, 'Great Dragon'
Impressive and fearsome, this dragon protects the world with fierce determination. Inspired by Balinese legends, where dragons are benevolent creatures, Khoirul Anam hand-carves the dragon's striking presence from seasoned mahogany wood.
Pine music set, 'Bali Rhythms'
A Balinese castanet makes a delightful percussive accompaniment to music and song. Played by moving a stick up and down between two spheres, it is as handsome as it is sonorous; a nylon cord attaches the playing stick to the castanets.
Kelotek, 'Dark Mahogany'
Ading handcrafts this traditional Balinese percussion instrument from mahogany wood and steel springs. The kelotek or kelotekan is a type of idiophone played by twisting the handle (the narrow inside part) at a steady pace.
Cekuntrung guitar, 'Brave Black'
Sleek black geometry becomes a handsome traditional cekuntrung guitar, hand-crafted by Ading. An instrument with strings placed over a shallow horizontal soundboard, the guitar is played with pick and fingers.
Mahogany kelempung sound box, 'Dark Beauty'
The talented Ading creates this kelempung from mahogany wood and iron. A wooden sound box resonates the frequency of the small wooden part that is held by a piece of iron on the base box.
Mahogany saron, 'Indonesian Glory'
Using rich mahogany wood, Ading creates this handsome saron (a type of xylophone), also called gangsa jongkok. It is the basic melodic instrument in the gamelan, an energetic orchestra at the center of Indonesia's art-music tradition.
Coconut shell kalimba, 'Blue Serpent Song'
Blue serpents grace this beautiful kalimba by Khoirul Anam. Crafted by hand, it is a colorful example of the traditional Indonesian instrument. The thumb piano is easy to play and produces a hollow tone when its stainless steel leaves are plucked.