2. What is Batik?
Batik is the art of decorating cloth using wax and dye, and has
been practised for centuries.
In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and
some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there.
The word batik originates from the Javanese tik and means to
dot.
Evidence of early examples of batik have been found in the Far
East, Middle East, Central Asia and India from over 2000
years ago. It is conceivable that these areas developed
independently, without the influence from trade or cultural
exchanges. However, it is more likely that the craft spread
from Asia to the islands of the Malay Archipelago and west to
the Middle East through the caravan route. Batik was
practised in China as early as the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618).
They are decorated with trees, animals, flute players, hunting
scenes and stylised mountains.
3. The Javanese People
The Javanese are the dominant ethnic group of Indonesia. The Austronesian
ancestors of the Javanese arrived perhaps as early as 3000 BC from the
Kalimantan coast. Apparently the island's agricultural bounty was renowned
from the earliest times: "Java" comes from the Sanskrit Yavadvipa ("island of
barley").
Javanese do not use surnames. They go only by a single personal name. Two
examples are the names of twentieth-century Indonesian leaders Sukarno and
Suharto, both Javanese.
Javanese recognize several classes of supernatural beings. Memedis are
frightening spirits. These include the gendruwo, which appear to people as
familiar relatives in order to kidnap them, making them invisible. If the victim
accepts food from the gendruwo, he or she will remain invisible forever.
The greatest spirit is Ratu Kidul, the Queen of the South Sea. She is believed to
be the mystical bride of Java's rulers. Her favorite color is green. Young men
avoid wearing green while at the Indian Ocean shore so that they will not be
pulled down into Ratu Kidul's underwater realm.
Another set of legendary figures are the wali songo. These are the nine holy
men who brought Islam to Java. They are credited with magical powers such as
flying.
http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Javanese.
html#ixzz3DOLa1rHh
4. Dress & Cuisine
For everyday wear, Javanese follow the Indonesian style of dress. Men
and women also commonly wear sarongs (a skirtlike garment) in public.
Ceremonial clothing for men includes a sarong, high-collared shirt,
jacket, and a blangkon, a head cloth wrapped to resemble a skullcap.
Women wear the sarong, kebaya (long-sleeved blouse), and selendang
(sash over the shoulder). The woman's hairstyle is called sanggul (long
hair in a thick, flat bun at the back—now achieved with a wig addition).
Handbags are always worn. Traditional dance costumes and wedding
attire leave the chest bare for men and the shoulders bare for women.
The most common meal ingredients are rice, stir-fried vegetables, dried
salted fish, tahu (tofu), tempeh (a bar of fermented soybeans), krupuk
(fish or shrimp crackers), and sambel (chili sauce). Favorite dishes
include gado-gado (a salad of partially boiled vegetables eaten with a
peanut sauce), sayur lodeh (a vegetable and coconut milk stew),
pergedel (fat potato fritters), and soto (soup with chicken, noodles, and
other ingredients). Dishes of Chinese origin are very popular, such as
bakso (meatball soup), bakmi (fried noodles), and cap cay (stir-fried
meat and vegetables). Common desserts are gethuk (a steamed
cassava dish colored pink, green, or white) and various sticky-rice
preparations (jenang dodol, klepon, and wajik).
5. The Batik Process
Step 1:
The first wax is applied over the
penciled-in outline of the
pattern. Almost always the
original cloth is white or beige.
6. The Batik Process
Step 2:
The cloth is dyed in the first dye
bath. In this case the first
dyebath is indigo blue. The area
of the cloth where the wax was
applied in Step 1 will remain
white.
7. The Batik Process
Step 3:
Second application of wax is
applied. In this case it is a dark
brown color. A poorer quality of
wax is used to cover larger
areas of cloth. The darker color
helps to differentiate it from the
first wax applied. Any parts that
are covered with this wax
application will remain the
indigo color.
8. The Batik Process
Step 4:
The cloth is dyed in the second
dye bath. In this case it is a
navy blue. Any areas that are
not covered by wax will become
dark blue.
9. The Batik Process
Step 5:
All the wax that has been
applied thus far is removed. This
is done by heating the wax and
scraping it off and also by
applying hot water and
sponging off the remaining wax.
10. The Batik Process
Step 6:
Wax is applied to the area of the
fabric that the artist wishes to
remain the indigo blue color.
11. The Batik Process
Step 7:
Wax is applied to the area of the
fabric that the artist wishes to
remain white.
12. The Batik Process
Step 8:
The fabric is submerged in the
final dye bath. In this case it is
brown. Any areas of the cloth
that have not been covered
with wax will become brown.
13. The Batik Process
Step 9:
The finished cloth after all of the
wax has been removed.
15. Uses for Batik
● Clothing
● Furniture
● Tapestry
● Art pieces
16. Let’s Experiment!
● Use white oil pastels to create areas of resist, and then
add a layer of watercolor.
● Once your watercolor is dry, add some more detailed
patterns using oil pastel.
● Add another layer of watercolor and observe the changes
you see!
