Garland Magazine

The stories behind
what we make

✿ Welcome to Garland Magazine ✿

Enjoy our latest issue ✿ Water Spirits ✿ Stories that bind the world together

Naga Mae Daw Serpent: Maternal energy uncoils in Myanmar

Soe Yu Nwe explains why she is drawn to the snake as inspiration for her work.

Water spirits in the form of serpents: The Ular Naga of Alor and the Phanya Naak of Laos

Water Spirits in the form of serpents occur throughout Southeast Asia, serving as guardian spirits and progenitors of lineages and populaces. Linda McIntosh highlights the Naak or Phanya Naak of Luang Prabang, Laos, and the Ular Naga of Alor Regency, Indonesia.

Hang Song: How a Lao serpent deity sprinkles blessings

Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith shares his elaborate water conduit for Buddist rituals featuring the makara river creature and naga serpent.

When Antaboga married Dewi Supreti, the snake goddess of kindness

Dias Prabu creates an epic batik that helps us connect to the earth that sustains life.

 

Featured Articles

From Issue 38 ✿ Water Spirits

Full Issue

Jamnalal Kumhar ✿ The rainbow Naga

A master temple sculptor made terracotta plaques showing the evolution of the Indian Naga into the Aboriginal Rainbow Serpent.

by Jamnalal Kumhar

Nereides: A homage to our seagrass meadows

Anna Davern writes about her series of beaded pins inspired by the ancient Greek myth of sea nymphs.

by Anna Davern

Love, loss and the sea: The mermaid in Southeast Asia’s Ramayana

Chandrica Barua recounts the story of Suvannamaccha, the Golden Mermaid, who appears in Southeast Asian depictions of the Ramayana.

by Chandrica Barua

Sea legends in Hong Kong’s waters from mermaids to pirates

A creative trio revive the legend of Hong Kong's mermaid as part of a cultural journey across the world.

by Evelyn Wan and Alysa Ihy

Stay in the Loop

With recent news

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What is the value of craft?

The inaugural report on the Value of Craft argues that craft plays a critical role in addressing the challenges of our time.

The year of the dandelion

To celebrate Garland's 10th year, we have selected the dandelion, a symbol of endurance, as our flower of 2025.

Jiang Zhaojin’s denim landscape: The intersection of craft, cultural identity and philosophical reflections

For Peixuan Lyu, Jiang Zhaojin's creative use of everyday material evokes profound concepts in Chinese philosophy.

Stoneware dreams of plastic memories

Liisa Nelson shares the inspiration behind her works for the exhibition at The Clay Studio.

Zhu Bingren ✿ Building a bronze mansion

Shuai Shao writes about a Chinese master of copper art who combines innovation, dedication and skill.

Sheikha Altaf ✿ The meaning of beauty and function in Sadu weaving

Sheikha Altaf Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah shares her journey towards establishing Sadu House in Kuwait as a home for bedouin weaving.

Days we celebrate on the Garland platform:

Current Exhibitions

Highlights from our calendar

Full Listing
Back to the Levant
Umm El-Fahem Gallery (Umm El-Fahem)
16 November - 30 May 2025
The Last Supper
Umm El-Fahem Gallery (Umm El-Fahem)
16 November - 30 May 2025
Fernando do Campo | Siblings
Ararat Gallery TAMA (Ararat)
1 March - 22 June 2025
Old School
Craft Victoria (Melbourne)
15 March - 3 May 2025
Everything is holy
Castlemaine Art Museum (Castlemaine)
22 March - 22 June 2025
Crafting Life: Stories from the Japanese Studio
Japan Foundation (Sydney)
11 April - 27 September 2025

Upcoming Talks

Future Major Events