ethnic tourism

When you visit Yogyakarta then do not miss to buy the various fascinating batik clothing , with comfort material and the cheap price. Knowing Yogyakarta is not complete without knowing the batik cloth and have them.

Batik originated from Javanese language “amba” which means to write and “titik”, means points. The word batik refers to the cloth with a pattern produced by the “malam” (wax) which is applied to the top of the cloth, so that resists the insertion of a coloring material (dye), or in the English language “wax-resist dyeing”.

Batik is a craft that has a high value of art and has become part of the culture of Indonesia (particularly Java) since long. Javanese women in the past make this skill to get income for their livelihood, so that in the past, making batik is the work exclusively to women, until  has found which allows the inclusion of men in this field. There are some exceptions to this phenomenon, namely the coastal batik masculine features such as lines, which can be viewed on the color “Mega Mendung”, which in some coastal areas is common for man to make a batik.

Variety of batik patterns and colors influenced by various foreign influences. Originally, batik has limited protean style and color, and some patterns may only be used by certain social rank. However, coastal batik absorb various external influences, such as foreign traders and also in the end, the colonists. Bright colors such as red popularizes by the Chinese, who also popularize phoenix pattern. European imperialist also take interest in the batik, and the result is a floral pattern which is previously unknown such as tulip flower and also the things that was brought by colonists (the building or horse-drawn carriage), including the colors of their favorite color as blue. The traditional batik still keep the patterns, and is still used in traditional ceremonies, usually because each color has a symbolism of each.

Batik techniques have been known since thousands years ago. There is no quite clear description about the history of origins of batik. Some suspect this technique comes from the Sumerian nation, and developed in Java after brought by Indian traders. At this time batik can be found in many countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Iran. In addition to Asia, batik is also very popular in some countries in the African continent. However, batik, which is very famous in the world of batik is from Indonesia, mainly from Java.

Making batik tradition usually a tradition from generation to generation, so that sometimes a motif can be identified comes from a batik family. Some batik motif can indicate the status of someone. Even now, some batik pattern only used by the family of Yogyakarta and Surakarta Palaces.

The making
Originally, batik created with white cloth material namely “mori”. For now on, the batik also made on other materials such as silk, polyester, rayon and other synthetic materials. Batik motif formed with liquid wax using a tool called a canting for fine or smooth patterns, with brush for large motif,so that the wax liquid can seep in to cloth fiber. Cloth that has been painted with wax and then dyed with the desired color, usually starting from the youth colors. Immersion the applied, and then made to another motif with color or black older. After through some coloring process, the fabric that has been batik-ing processes then washed with some chemicals liquid to have the wax being dissolved.

Type of batik
Handdrawn Batik, If motif is formed with the hands
Batik cap/stamped, If motif formed with the cap/stamp (usually made of copper).

Batik Course, Dive in to Batik Tulis Culture
Visiting Yogyakarta, could not only enjoy the adorable batik art works, but also the opportunity to learn the making techniques of batik. This valuable opportunity is packed with tourism package with short duration and affordable price, it would be very exciting.

Batik variety which can be learned diverse from batik tulis, batik cap and also batik lukis (painting). Any places offer each specifications, usually have distinctive type of batik taught. During the day, usually divided into two sessions, you will learn the entire process of the making of batik, which generally consists of making patterns, coloring the fabric, “ngorot malam” (washing the fabric from the wax) process, and drying.
The patterns making begins when all of the materials, especially “mori” fabric, have been prepared. Making patterns is done with the main materials are waxes. If you want to make a batik tulis, then making patterns will be done by using canting, while batik cap needs stamp which has been designed according to the desired motif.

Usually, you have a choice of patterns which would be made. Unique motives which usually made such as “ceplok” motif, “cecek sawut”, and semen motif. All these motives could be found in the historic buildings in Indonesia. Ceplok motif could be found in the Borobudur temple, cecek sawut could be found in the decoration on the bronze drum of bronze age which have been found by archeological ministry of Indonesian Government. While semen motif could be found in the tomb of Queen Kalinyamat.

The process continued with the coloring of cloth. How, cloth that has been motified sink in the bucket which contains pigment. This process seems simple, but actually quite difficult, especially when you want a batik which has more than two colors. Many batik maker still use natural dye made from certain natural materials, but many also use a synthetic dye.
After coloring the fabric spreadly, then the process of washing the wax (nglorot malam) will begin. Initially, boiling water mixed with liquid soda have to be prepared. Then the fabric will be sink in it untill all wax dissolved in water.

Final stage is washing. If using natural colors, the washing process can not involved detergents. They will destroy the colors. Once it washed, it must be dried by natural dryer which is use wind, not sun element.
You can see the differences between batik with natural colors or sysnthetic by looking their colors, natural colors result usually looks more opaque.

Courses institutions in any places in Yogyakarta have professional instructors so that they can create advanced courses even though in just a short time. Some places also have english literally instructors, making easier for to learn.

Sanggar Kalpika is one of the places that offers this course. Located in Kampung Taman (Taman Village), west side of Tamansari. There, woul will learn batik painting (lukis).
For those who want to learn batik tulis and batik cap, Balai Batik is the right place to go. Institution which located at Jalan Kusumanegara, will offer short course for whom want to learn batik. They have skillfull instructors and special room for this learning process. costs incurred varies, according the desired duration of the course, in the range of 250.000 IDR to 1.500.000 IDR.

In addition of learning batik making, you can also observe the activities and the works of batik makers in Kampung Taman, who developing batik painting since the past 30 years ago. You can also see various works of batik from all around Indonesia Region that displayed in Balai Batik Tulis.