How do rattan figurative sculptures engage with decolonial aesthetics in global biennales?

Rattan figurative sculptures have emerged as powerful mediums for decolonial aesthetics in global biennales, challenging Eurocentric art narratives and reclaiming indigenous craftsmanship. These works often blend traditional weaving techniques with contemporary themes, subverting colonial legacies while asserting cultural identity. Artists like Sopheap Pich and Maria Taniguchi use rattan’s organic, pliable nature to critique globalization and environmental exploitation, resonating with postcolonial discourse. By occupying prestigious biennale spaces, these sculptures disrupt Western-centric curation, fostering dialogue on cultural erasure and resilience. Their tactile, ephemeral quality further embodies decolonial resistance—rejecting permanence as a colonial value. Through materiality and form, rattan sculptures reimagine art’s role in healing historical trauma and centering marginalized voices.