Tapis

Ululay

“Bagkat"

Milk Cotton and Acrylic Yarn

6" x 6"

2021

This piece looks into the pattern found in the daily Kankana-ey female dress called the "tapis," which is essentially a wraparound skirt. The red, green, and yellow colors with hints of black is the most common colorway in this ethnic group. The geometric symbols featured in this pattern are the "uweg" (snake) and "tinagtago" (human) on the top part, and more of the "tiktiko" on the lower part. This time the "tiktiko" form x's in the middle parts, alternating with the diamonds of the "matmata": the diamonds once again stand for grains of rice and the x's stand for traditional rice mortars, a combination that's often used to signify wealth and abundance. The "uweg" and the "tinagtago" are often used to generate good omen on the wearer.

"This collection of Ululay's work is largely inspired by patterns from Northern Philippine indigenous textiles. The effort to combine the age-old practice of crochet and the meaningful symbols from these patterns is borne out of the artist's own indigenous roots. The textile patterns included in the pieces mimic the Mountain Province "tapis," "wanes," and the ceremonial "bakget.""