Lately, batik became one fashion trend motifs world. Batik gained
momentum when batik was named by UNESCO as Masterpieces of the Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity, on October 2, 2009 from Indonesia. In Indonesia,
batik is very popular as traditional knowledge. When you come visiting
Indonesia, you will easily find people dressing batik. Batik became one fashion
required in various private offices, government as well as school uniforms.
Batik favored by various groups, from the low-end class till the high-end
class. Many of young people and old people love to use batik in their daily
activities, to go to a job even to go to the party.
So how do we define
batik?
Simplify, batik is only seen from the motive. Motif does have
its own characteristics which is easy to recognize, even at some motive
sometimes quite confusing. However, in particular, batik has two definitions.
The first, batik is a fabric produced from fabric staining technique that uses
a special technique to cover part of the surface of the fabric to be colored by
‘malam’ (a wax-like substance). This malam usually attach using a special tool
known as ‘chanting’. Malam is used as a preventive attachment of colors on most
fabrics that have been patterned. In the international language, this technique
is also known as wax-resist dyeing. The dyes used in batik taking natural dyes
such as dye from the noni tree, tall, soga, indigo, and the like.
The second definition of batik, is based on fabrics made using
these techniques, coupled with the use of certain motifs typical. Thus, can be
interpreted as a whole batik making techniques, art, culture and motifs typical
pattern. This type of batik is known as ‘Batik Tulis’ or Written Batik. This one
of the batik type which have the highest price overall in this time. As the
times and technology advances, batik also experienced growth. The process of
making batik is develop, so that the manufacturing process becomes easier and
faster. Over time, the batik was only identified with a distinctive motif pattern
and no longer needs special technique process. Even though, still many people
maintain the truly batik using the old process.
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| image source: gelasbatikpainting.wordpress.com |
The word of batik, etymologically derived from the Javanese language
in words ‘amba’ and ‘titik’. Amba means writing, and titik means the point.
Thus, in this case, batik has a broader meaning, namely the writing point. But
more than that, write the point in question is certainly not just the points
written without meaning. However, every point that can be scratched batik
pattern, resulting from the appreciation and deepening meaning. Even to make a
pattern typical batik motif is not easy and carelessly. Each pattern contains
the meaning of philosophy and special prayer. So as to produce the depth of
meaning, the batik perform rituals before the pattern starts. They fasted for
40 days and 40 nights. Thus, they can get the enlightenment to inspire meaningful
pattern making batik pattern in a cultural wisdom concept.
A Dutch archaeologist J.L.A. Brandes and Indonesian
archaeologists F.A. Sutjipto, batik in Indonesia believe that first appeared on
the ancient tradition in eastern Indonesia such as Toraja, Flores, Halmahera
and Papua. Only, there is no chanting tools they use in their traditional batik
cloth dyeing. While chanting itself is believed by G.P. Rouffaer, found in the
region around the 13th century Where Java found that assessed gringsing pattern
can only be made by chanting tool.
At the beginning of discovery, not so well known batik
community. New batik has become a popular and growing rapidly at the time of
the Majapahit kingdom. Other kingdoms helped further expand the development of
batik. The development of batik is mostly done in the kingdom of Mataram,
Surakarta and Yogyakarta.
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