Batik: Do more than just claim it

Jakarta - Erika, 11, a student at Insan Teladan elementary school in Bogor, West Java, took a closer look at her 15-by-15 centimeter white cloth, now decorated with a handmade batik pattern. It was her first batik "masterpiece", despite its rather grubby appearance.

"It is fun to make batik patterns on a cloth, you know," said the fifth-grader, who was clad in a scout uniform.

Although tired and sweaty, Erika looked thrilled with the new skill she had just learned.

"I had no idea that putting this kind of pattern with canting *the hand-held tool to draw the batik pattern* could be this hard. The melted wax kept leaking while I was using it. So, my work looks messy," said Erika, showing her batik with a basic flower pattern.

Erika said that she would bring her creation home. "I'd like to show it to my Mom and Dad."

Suri, a teacher at the Insan Teladan school, said Erika was one of the 40 students who had been invited by Sevilla International School in Pulomas, East Jakarta, to join the Pagelaran Batik 1,500 Canting exhibition at Sevilla on Saturday noon.

The batik-making exhibition was organized jointly with the Central School, located in Kembangan Selatan, West Jakarta.

"I think this event is a good idea. The students can learn something. As soon as they return to school, they will share the experience with their friends," said Suri.

Making batik is not only a source of entertainment for children, but for adults and parents too.

Fredi, 31, married to one of the teachers at Central School, said it was quite tricky to draw a batik pattern.

"I already knew the tip of the canting was pretty large. So, whenever I failed to draw the batik line properly, the wax kept flowing," he said.

More than 1,500 participants joined the batik show to celebrate UNESCO's recognition of Indonesian batik as world cultural heritage.

On Oct. 2, UNESCO recognized batik as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, acknowledging the dyeing technique as being uniquely Indonesian.

In the run-up to that recognition, Indonesians were asked to wear batik on Oct. 2, which is now celebrated as Batik Day.

Previously, Malaysia claimed batik as part of its cultural heritage.

Deputy chairwoman of Indonesian Batik Foundation Sri Murniati Widodo told The Jakarta Post the Sevilla batik show could to promote the batik industry around Indonesia.

"If it is well promoted, I believe the art of batik will become a significant source of employment," she added. (Niken Prathivi)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com
Photo: http://surabaya.detik.com

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