ADELAIDE.- Opening at the Art Gallery of South Australia on 15 May, Two Islands, One Thread: The Art and Cultures of Lombok & Bali is the first exhibition in Australia to explore the remarkable artistic and cultural connections between two distinct Indonesian societies - Muslim Lombok and Hindu Bali. Through rarely-seen textiles, drawings, paintings and objects, Two Islands, One Thread reveals how centuries of maritime contact, trade and migration across the Lombok Strait has shaped both islands’ artistic traditions while preserving their unique cultural identities.

Two Islands, One Thread celebrates both the history and continuing ingenuity of artists on both islands through the shared heritage of cloth. At the heart of the exhibition are textiles - woven, embroidered, painted and tie-dyed - created by the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok and the Balinese. For local communities, these works are profound expressions of spiritual belief, identity and reverence for ancestors. For Lombok, intricate songket (brocade) cloths shimmering with metallic thread, and hand-woven fabrics featuring Lombok’s renowned ikat technique reveal the island as a place where textiles are deeply intertwined with everyday life. Elsewhere in the exhibition, the lavish patterns of the Balinese textiles reflect the belief that the garments imitate divinely beautiful textiles woven by the Hindu gods.

Alongside these textiles, Two Islands, One Thread features works of art and objects from Lombok and Bali, including gold ancestral shrine plaques, Balinese temple doors dating from the 18th century and large-scale paintings, showcasing the architecture, ceremonial life and artistic traditions of both islands.

Among the more than 100 works on display are previously unseen textiles from AGSA’s collection, alongside rare loans from the West Nusa Tenggara State Museum in Lombok, never seen before in Australia, and key works donated by Michael Abbott AO KC, whose longstanding support has enriched the Gallery’s holdings of Southeast Asian art.

AGSA Director Jason Smith said the exhibition reflects the Gallery’s commitment to presenting diverse global cultures and strengthening international partnerships.

Smith commented, ‘Two Islands, One Thread not only showcases exceptional works of art but also represents a significant cultural collaboration between Australia and one of our closest neighbours, Indonesia. Rare works will be on display through our partnership with the West Nusa Tenggara State Museum and the generosity of donors such as Michael Abbott AO KC, enabling us to share important stories that broaden our understanding of the artistic connections between Lombok and Bali.’

AGSA Curator of Asian Art, Russell Kelty, said the exhibition highlights an often-overlooked cultural relationship.

‘Two Islands, One Thread brings to light a remarkable history of connection between Bali and Lombok. While these islands are often understood as culturally distinct, their artistic traditions reveal a long history of exchange, adaptation and shared creativity. Textiles from both regions carry deep cultural meaning -used in ceremony, daily life and as conduits between the physical and spiritual worlds. This exhibition offers audiences a rare opportunity to see how these traditions intersect and diverge,’ he said.

The exhibition is accompanied by a major illustrated publication - one of the first to explore the textiles, art and culture of Lombok - co-edited by Dr James Bennett and I Made Rai Artha with Michael Abbott AO KC and available from September 2026 at the AGSA Store. On Saturday 12 September, AGSA will host a major symposium featuring speakers from Australia and Indonesia to celebrate the exhibition and launch of the publication.

Two Islands, One Thread: The Art and Cultures of Lombok & Bali is on display at AGSA from 15 May to 11 October 2026, free entry.