Tikar mengkuang

There are many kinds of tables in our lives. While a table may seem like just a piece of furniture, it holds deeper, unseen value. I see how ‘a table’ connects to family—a micro-organization in society—through something as simple as our dining table.

For me, mealtime is a special moment in my family. It’s when we gather casually and enjoy food together. This experience feels even more meaningful during the fasting month, where we celebrate food and togetherness during iftar and sahur. These are some of my favorite moments during Ramadan. I still remember, when I was a child, my family and I used to sit around a round tikar mengkuang for every meal. Back then, we had no dining table, so the tikar mengkuang was our version of it. The experience felt different—more grounded, more connected—as everyone sat on the floor. I truly miss those moments.

I created this sketch to capture and remember those times, with a few notes showing how my family used to eat during iftar and sahur.

Ulam and sambal belacan were always a must!