History of Batik Indonesia
The word "batik" comes
from a combination of two Javanese words: "amba", meaning
"writing" and "point" meaning "point". Batik is
one way of making clothes. In addition, batik can refer to two things. The
first is a cloth dyeing technique using the night to prevent staining of some
of the fabric. In international literature, this technique is known as
wax-resist dyeing. The second sense is the fabric or clothing made with the
technique, including the use of certain motifs that have peculiarities. The
Indonesian Batik, as a whole of Technics, technology, and related motif and
cultural development, by UNESCO has been designated as a Humanitarian Heritage
for Oral Culture and Nonbendawi (Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity) since October 2, 2009.
Batik
is a craft that has high artistic value and has been a part of Indonesian
culture (especially Java) since a long time. Javanese women in the past made
their skills in batik as a livelihood, so in the past batik work was the
exclusive work of women until the discovery of "Batik Cap" which
enabled men to enter into this field. There are some exceptions to this
phenomenon, namely coastal batik that has a masculine line as can be seen in
the "Mega Overcast" style, and where in some coastal areas batik work
is common for men
A.
BATIK
MOTIFE
Batik
style and color are influenced by various foreign influences. Initially, batik
has a limited variety of shades and colors, and some features may only be used
by certain circles. But coastal batik absorbs various external influences, such
as foreign traders and also in the end, the invaders. Bright colors like red
were popularized by the Chinese, who also popularized the phoenix style. The
European colonials also took an interest in batik, and the result was a
previously unknown flower pattern (such as a tulip flower) as well as objects
brought by the invaders (buildings or horse-drawn carriages), as well as their
favorite colors such as blue. Traditional batik still retains its style, and is
still used in traditional ceremonies, because usually each style has its own
symbols.
B.
BATIK
CULTURE
Batik
tradition at first is a tradition that hereditary, so sometimes a motif can be
recognized from certain family batik. Some batik may indicate the status of a
person. Even to this day, some traditional batik motifs are only used by the
royal family of Yogyakarta and Surakarta.. In the beginning batik clothes are
often worn on the official event to replace the suit. But in its development
during the New Order period batik clothes are also used as official clothing of
school students and civil servants (batik Korpri) who use batik uniforms on
Friday. The next development of batik began to shift into everyday clothes
mainly used by women. Private employees usually wear batik on Thursday or
Friday.
C.
BATIK
DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA
The
history of batik in Indonesia is related to the development of Majapahit
kingdom and the subsequent kingdom. In some notes, batik development is mostly
done during the reign of Mataram, then in the kingdom of Solo and Yogyakarta.
Batik
art is the art of drawing on the cloth for clothing that became one of the
family culture of the kings of ancient Indonesia. Batik initially done only
limited in the palace alone and the results for the king's clothes and family
and his followers. Because many of the followers of the king who live outside
the palace, then this batik art is brought by them out of the palace and done
in place of each respectively. In its development gradually this batik art
imitated by the nearest people and then expand into the work of women in the
household to fill leisure time. Furthermore, batik which was only a palace
family clothes, then become popular clothing, both women and men.
The
white fabric used at that time was the result of the woven fabric itself. While
the dye ingredients used consist of native plants made from Indonesia itself,
among others from: mengkudu tree, high, soga, indigo, and soda made from soda
ash, and the salt is made from mud soil.
So
this batik craft in Indonesia has been known since the time of Majapahit
kingdom and continue to grow until the next kingdom. The widespread beginnings
of this batik art belong to the people of Indonesia and especially the Javanese
tribe is after the end of the XVIII century or the beginning of the XIX
century. Batik produced is all handmade batik until the beginning of the XX
century and new batik cap after the First World War after or around 1920. Now
batik has become part of traditional Indonesian clothing.
D.
WAYS
OF MAKING
Originally
batik made on top of material with white color made of cotton called mori
cloth. Today batik is also made on top of other materials such as silk,
polyester, rayon and other synthetic materials. Batik motif is formed with
liquid wax by using a tool called canting for fine motif, or brush for large
motifs, so that the wax liquid seeps into the fabric fibers. Fabrics that have
been painted with wax are then dyed with the desired color, usually starting
from the young colors. Immersion is then performed for other motifs with darker
or darker colors. After several staining processes, the fabric has been dyed
dipped in chemicals to dissolve the wax.
E.
WORLD
RECOGNITION TO BATIK
UNESCO,
the United Nations (UN) agency that oversees the cultural problem has approved
batik as a non-object cultural heritage produced by Indonesia. The inauguration
of batik as UNESCO's non-object cultural heritage will be held in a series of
events from 28 September 2009 to 2 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates the humanitarian object of non-humanity is one of three lists made
under the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Protection Cultural Heritage No Objects for
Humanity. Since 2008, the government has conducted field research and involving
communities and batik experts in 19 provinces in Indonesia to nominate batik as
a non-humanitarian heritage of UNESCO.
After
the puppet and keris recognized by UNESCO as the Great Work of Oral Culture and
No Material of Human Inheritance, the batik also now get that recognition. The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
already admitted wayang in 2003 and admitted keris in 2005.
F.
BATIK
DAY
Checking
on UNESCO about the reason to make batik as world cultural heritage from
Indonesia, UNESCO recognition that it has been through research for many years.
Batik in Indonesia there is motive and philosophy, not just production.
To
celebrate the success, he continued, President Yudhoyono appealed to all
Indonesian people to wear batik clothes for the appreciation of the Indonesian
culture. The cultural heritage of non-humanitarian objects is one of three
lists created under UNESCO Convention 2003 on Protection of Cultural Heritage
Not Objects Humanity.
Since
2008, the government has conducted field research and involving communities and
batik experts in 19 provinces in Indonesia to nominate batik as a
non-humanitarian heritage of UNESCO.
Minister
of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said that since 2003 Indonesian culture has
been recognized by UNESCO with a certificate of wayang as the cultural heritage
of objects and kris as the world cultural heritage of Indonesia. The government
is nominating Angklung as a cultural heritage from Indonesia.
Friday
(02/10) is a special day because President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked
all Indonesian people to wear batik in order to support the decision of UNESCO
who has entered batik in the item list "Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity".
"Batik
is a cultural icon that is very valuable because of its uniqueness. Batik has
unique symbols and philosophies, including the flow of male life, and batik has
been considered Indonesia as a non-material element of the country's cultural
heritage. We claim that batik has been recognized as a global cultural heritage
element produced by Indonesia. President SBY also encouraged all Indonesian
citizens to wear batik on October 2, to celebrate Batik Day, "said,
Aburizal Bakrie.
UNESCO
(United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has described
Indonesian Batik viewed from the technical side, as a symbol and culture made
of cotton with decorative dye from canting or from silk material. However,
unlike other countries, Indonesia is very proud of Batik that can be used as
formal attire for formal events. Batik itself is usually made of cotton or silk
fabric, which is very comfortable to wear.
Previously,
UNESCO has also inaugurated Keris and Wayang, also Angklung and Gamelan into
Indonesian cultural heritage. To support Batik Day, the Jakarta city government
gives special discount when entering the recreation center in Jakarta.
Traditional Batik Factories are also found in some countries such as Malaysia,
Japan, China, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Singapore. So I
think as a writer, batik will always be a cultural heritage of this archipelago
will even make it a world icon in the future ahead someday.
"UNESCO's recognition of the
batik is a long process through testing and closed trials. Early on May 11-14,
2009 has been a closed session in the declaration in front of six countries in Paris.
For October 2 in Abu Dhabi is an open hearing as an inaugural event.
In
a press statement the Ministry of Culture and Tourism mentioned the second day
of UNESCO's "Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage" meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,
among other things discussing the evaluation of the inscription nomination on
the Representative List on Culture rather than the Inheritance of Human Beings.
"In
the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Batik
Indonesia is mentioned in the 13.44 Decision Plan which is expected to be
ratified in the final hearing on October 2, 2009 night," said Director
General of Cultural Arts and Film, Tjetjep Suparman, the Indonesian delegation
to the 4th session of the committee.