PROJECT TOKO TOKO

Traditional shops make up an important part of Balinese society, selling everyday items including rooster baskets, cooking utensils, fresh fruit &, vegetables, shampoo and even petrol in bottles. In addition, these shops often sell items for ceremonial purposes and are as such an integral part of a typical Balinese person’s life. The traditional shop is also a place of community, where Balinese people come together to exchange news, gossip and perhaps enjoy a cup of Kopi Bali. It is a place of comfort along a lonely stretch of road in more remote areas.

Due to the modernisation that’s happening across the entire island, predominantly in tourist areas, many of the old shops are being torn down and replaced by hotels and other tourist facilities. Even in less touristy areas, traditional shops are affected by the rise of modern convenience chain stores such as Indomaret, Mini Mart and the like, offering a large variety of internationally known products at a low price.

Another reason for the slow death of the traditional shops is that the younger Balinese generation is seeking different jobs, mostly in the tourism industry. With the slow disappearing of these shops, a part of Balinese culture will also disappear, giving way to a more modern, gentrified society. High quality items, previously hand made from natural materials, are being replaced by mass produced goods. Regional and international brands are strengthening their foothold across the island, their fancy marketing strategies promising better quality. If this trend prevails, entire cottage industries could potentially be wiped out as more and more Balinese people prefer the convenience and prestige that comes with buying commercially made and packaged products.

By capturing the still existing traditional shops and their owners, I would like to preserve this crucial element of Balinese social culture as a visual reference for generations to come. The below image gallery is a small but growing selection of Tokos from around the island of the Gods.

All images are available as prints.