tapel & Story
The idea for a Tapel-inspired table decoration emerged during a temple visit on Kuningan, a day when ancestors return to heaven. Captivated by the intricate Karang Tapel ornaments, I wanted to create my own design for the Nuana collection in Indonesia.When I shared this idea, a friend advised me to first understand its deeper meaning and seek a blessing from the temple priest. Over three sessions with the Pemangku, I learned about Tapel’s significance in architecture, religion, and decoration—especially its role as a guardian against negative energy. Honoring the character was a key part of this process, ensuring that its spirit and protective function remained intact within the design.Only after completing this journey and finalizing the design was the blessing given to produce it for the Nuana Collection.
Tapel’s design is more reduced and minimalistic than traditional Indonesian versions, reimagined in resin to suit contemporary spaces. Beyond blending tradition with modern design, the piece merges two crafts—Indonesian wood carving and resin casting, a skill local artisans have mastered over time.
Through experimentation with colors and materials, the final design features a unique composite of resin and rice husks, a byproduct of rice production, creating a terrazzo-like effect.
When Vishnu took on the form of a boar dug to the bottom of the Earth, he encountered the enchanting Prithvi, which led to their union in which their son Bhoma was created. In Indonesian mythology, Bhoma causes lunar eclipses by trying to eat the Moon.
Tapel is the Javanese name for Bhoma.
Tapel - Nuana Collection
by Robin Hapelt
Open for contracting or order