Batik is from Indonesia

By : Febrianti -INA

Batik (Javanese pronunciation: [ˈbate?]; Indonesian pronunciation: [ˈbaːtik]; English: /ˈbætɪk/ or /bəˈtiːk/) is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique.

Javanese traditional batik, especially from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, has special meanings rooted to the Javanese conceptualization of the universe.

Traditional colours include indigo, dark brown, and white, which represent the three major Hindu Gods (Brahmā, Visnu, and Śiva). This is related to the fact that natural dyes are only available in indigo and brown. Certain patterns can

only be worn by nobility; traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines of greater width indicated higher rank. Consequently, during Javanese ceremonies, one could determine the royal lineage of a person by the cloth he or she was wearing.

Other regions of Indonesia have their own unique patterns that normally take themes from everyday lives, incorporating patterns such as flowers, nature,

animals, folklore or people. The colours of pesisir batik, from the coastal cities of northern Java, is especially vibrant, and it absorbs influence from the Javanese,

Arab, Chinese and Dutch culture. In the colonial times pesisir batik was a favorite of the Peranakan Chinese, Dutch and Eurasians.

UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on October 2, 2009. As part of the acknowledgment, UNESCO insisted that Indonesia preserve their heritage.

In Java, Indonesia, batik predates written records. GP. Rouffaer argues that the technique might have been

introduced during the 6th or 7th century from India or Sri Lanka.[6] On the other hand, JLA. Brandes (a Dutch

archeologist) and F.A. Sutjipto (an Indonesian archeologist) believe Indonesian batik is a native

tradition, regions such as Toraja, Flores, Halmahera, and Papua, which were not directly influenced by Hinduism

and have an old age tradition of batik making

one form or another, batik has worldwide popularity. Now, not only is batik used as a material to clothe the human body, its uses

also include furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths and

household accessories. Batik techniques are used by famous artists to create batik paintings, which grace many homes and

offices.

How to Make Batik

GawanganBandulWajanAngloTepasTaplakSaringan malamDingklik (lincak)cantingMORI

Melted wax (Javanese: malam) is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. It is common

for people to use a mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax. The beeswax will hold to the fabric and the paraffin wax will allow cracking, which is a characteristic of batik. Wherever the wax

has seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colours are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.

Thin wax lines are made with a canting, a wooden handled tool with a tiny metal cup

with a tiny spout, out of which the wax seeps. After the last dyeing, the fabric is

hung up to dry. Then it is dipped in a solvent to dissolve the wax, or ironed

between paper towels or newspapers to absorb the wax and reveal the deep rich colors and the fine crinkle lines that give

batik its character. This traditional method of batik making is called batik tulis.

For batik prada, gold leaf was used in the Yogjakarta and Surakarta area. The Central Javanese used gold dust to decorate their

prada cloth. It was applied to the fabric using a handmade glue consisting of egg white or linseed oil and yellow earth. The gold would remain on the cloth even after it had been

washed. The gold could follow the design of the cloth or could take on its own design. Older batiks could be given a new look by

applying gold to them.

Industrialization of Technique

The application of wax with a canting is done with great care and therefore is very time-

consuming. As the population increased and commercial demand rose, time-saving

methods evolved. Other methods of applying the wax to the fabric include pouring the

liquid wax, painting the wax with a brush, and putting hot wax onto pre-carved wooden or

copper block (called a cap or tjap) and stamping the fabric.

The invention of the copper block (cap) developed by the Javanese in the 20th century revolutionized

batik production. By block printing the wax onto the fabric, it became possible to mass-produce designs and intricate patterns much faster than

one could possibly do by using a canting.Batik print is the common name given to fabric that incorporates batik pattern without actually

using the wax-resist dyeing technique. It represents a further step in the process of

industrialization, reducing the cost of batik by mass-producing the pattern repetitively, as a standard practice employed in the worldwide

textile industry.

Batik Daerah Yogyakarta

Batik Daerah Jawa Tengah

Batik Daerah Jawa Barat

Batik Jakarta Batik Daerah Kalteng

Batik Daerah Ketapang

Batik Daerah Jambi

Batik Daerah Riau

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

ATTENTION