Batik: Crossing the Border of People

Currently wearing batik has reached all groups of society. Various types of batik are used from internal royal family to common people, from officials to folks, from old people to young children, both men and women and from local to international level. How batik can be a media to connect people?

Formerly batik was exclusive clothing because only internal members of the palace are allowed to wear batik, including royal family, relatives and officials in the palace. Batik itself has certain motifs or symbols and it contains special messages too. Wearing batik with certain motifs will show one’s existence and role. Yogyakarta palace is well known for classical batik. There are certain motifs used only in internal palace, because they are symbols with special meanings, for example the motif of 'parang rusak barong' is only worn by Sultan. Other classic batik motifs also have different symbols and they are worn on certain occasions.

As the time goes and society develops well, batik spreads out and belongs to not only the internal members of the palace but also the businessmen, merchants, and then common people. The spread of batik takes a long time. The merchants modify classic batik motifs with other motifs for sale and then used by common people. It is the background for the emergence of ‘batik sudagaran’, from the word 'saudagar or merchant'. Even among common people brought out certain motifs related to their daily life such as animals, flowers, leaves and sometimes abstract motifs.

The interaction with other nations brougth out the mixing and acculturation of local cultures including batik motifs. Emerging influences come from India, Middle East, Europe, China and Japan. They came from various nations with their own cultures towards northern coast of Java. They traded and then settled there. The uniqueness of batik encouraged them to use batik and modify it by incorporating their cultural symbols in classical batik motifs. Finally, from the expatriate’s children and grandchildren, a term ‘batik peranakan’ emerged. This batik is a modification of classic motifs with symbols or images that are distinctive from their culture. In terms of color, various colors are used and it tends to bright colour and sometimes gradation. From the motif itself, there are various forms of cultural influences such as India with 'meru' or mountain, Europe with picture of bouquet of flowers, Middle East appearing in figurative pictures, Chinese with pictures of Hong birds and Japanese with cherry blossoms. ‘Batik peranakan’ is developed mostly in northern coast of Java because it is near with port and trade area, such as Cirebon, Pekalongan, Semarang, Kudus, Jepara and Lasem.

The current technology development supports the promotion of batik and batik is no longer local but international. When people know more about batik, they want to explore more the messages in it. Hundred years ago when there was colonization in Java, the Dutch brought batik from Java to the Netherlands to be exhibited. It turned out that batik amazed Europeans because it is unique and exotic.

Those above indicate that batik is unique and it has message in it, even it is able to adapt the development of society. Next, it is much possible that batik becomes one ‘language’ to connect people with various backgrounds. (TRU).