About aNERD
Woven Stories, Culture Forward
aNERD Gallery began as an idea: to spark curiosity about Nusantara textiles and heritage so as to ensure the continuity of traditional crafts within the region. Today, it has grown into a Singapore-based collaborative textile art space at 29 Perak Road, offering curated exhibitions, artist takeovers and cultural residencies that re-examine traditional crafts as living, evolving art forms.
Guided by its ethos Woven Stories, Culture Forward, the gallery connects communities, celebrates artisans and artists, and invites audiences to engage with the rich narratives woven into the region’s cultural fabric — whether in Singapore or through bespoke experiences at art fairs and boutique events worldwide.
Through initiatives like Threads & Trails, immersive cultural journeys tracing textile heritage; Roots & Finds, limited story-driven wearable art; Living Culture Classroom, interactive talks and workshops; aNERD further fosters connection to Nusantara (Southeast Asian) textile arts and heritage, making traditional craft relevant for today through informed storytelling and ethical engagement.
Every curated piece and every meaningful experience – guided by authenticity, respect, and the stories of those who make it.
About Tony Sugiarta
Founder and curator, Tony Sugiarta trained as a scientist. In 2016, he left a career in pharmaceutical research and began travelling across Java to visit batik villages, tracing the history and human stories behind traditional Indonesian batik and tenun textiles.
Driven by a desire to ensure a continuity in traditional art forms of textile, Tony founded aNERDgallery in 2017 — the first Singapore-based art platform specialising in Indonesian batik and tenun arts, aiming to “re-examine Nusantara textile heritage as contemporary art” through exhibitions, talks, workshops and collaborations.
Through his curatorial work, he frames batik not merely as traditional craft, but as a medium to explore culture, identity, sustainability, and contemporary art narratives. His approach seeks to make textile heritage relevant and accessible today, bridging traditional craftsmanship with modern dialogues on culture and identity.