Binakael Explained

Binakael (binakel, binakol, binakul^[1]) (transliterated, "to do a sphere") is a type of weaving pattern traditional in the Philippines. Patterns consisting entirely of straight lines are woven so as to create the illusion of curves and volumes.^[2] A sense of motion is also sought.^[3] Designs are geometric, but often representational. The techniques create illusionistic designs similar to op art patterns and were popular by the late 19th century,^[4] when the United States colonized the Philippines and American museums collected many traditional Philippine textiles.Binakael patterns may use a two-block rep weave, making them double-sided, but with colour reversal.^[5]

In culture

Mara Coson's novel "Aliasing" was inspired by binakael weave.^[6]

See also

• Op art
• Inabel
• T'nalak

Notes and References

1. Web site: Celdran . Bea . Segovia . Patrick . So you think you know your local weaves? . NOLISOLI . 20 October 2017.
2. Web site: Gonzalez . Michael . Text to Textile . Positively Filipino: Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora.
3. Web site: Binakol: Craft . whitechampa.com.
4. https://yuchengcomuseum.org/art-loom-weaving-story-binakul/ Art of the Loom: Weaving the Story That Is the Binakul
5. Johnson . Kathleen Forance . Tsai . Yushan . A Weaver Looks at Tinguian Blankets . Textile Society of America Newsletter . 23 . Fall 2011 .
6. News: Jaucian . Don . Mara Coson's debut novel talks about ‘history’ through Dolphy, Macabebe Marie, and the Ibong Adarna . CNN . May 15, 2019 . February 5, 2020 . February 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200205061625/https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/literature/2019/5/15/mara-coson-aliasing-interview.html . dead .