From Local to Global

Exposure to Batik Museum of Yogyakarta

A training on Cultural Heritage: Batik as cultural and world heritage from Indonesia, with a theme 'From Local to Global' opened opportunity for students to explore everything related to batik, its history, philosophy, motifs, meaning and even doing batik practise. This is important, because it would be an irony if Indonesia's young generation do not know about batik which has been recognized worldwide as cultural heritage from Indonesia.

Marianus Lejap, the coordinator of the training explained the training rundown that participants will learn any things about batik at Batik Museum of Yogyakarta, design batik motifs based on participants’ origin, practice batik and bring up batik-based business ideas.

"Stube-HEMAT as mentoring institution for students from various regions in Indonesia who study in Yogyakarta equips students with knowledge and skills so that students have ‘added value’ through the programs in it. Students from various majors such as engineering, economics, governance, education and theology learn not only the subject of their study but also know the local culture of Yogyakarta such as Batik and are expected to create new innovation with local content from their origin, "said Ariani Narwastujati, the executive director of Stube-HEMAT.

During the visit to the museum (1/12/2018), participants were divided into two small groups to explore the museum. The group one accompanied by Didik, the tour guide, began to learn the history of the museum which was pioneered by Hadi Nugroho's family with Dewi Sukaningsih, his wife. The spouse revealed their anxiety on the preservation of batik because many high-quality batik sheets were cut into pieces to make clothes without thinking about the meaning of the batik itself. Furthermore, the participants observed batik equipment such as canting, heating, wax, coloring, motif stamps and steps of making batik from 'ngeblat' (drawing) motifs to 'nglorot' (removing) wax. The Kraton-motifs batik are displayed there such as Sidomukti, Parang, and Kawung. Other motifs are ‘Udan Liris’ (drizzling rain), 'Truntum' and ‘Pisang Bali’. In the exhibition room there is ‘bledak’ batik, a batik made for ordinary people with natural nuances such as leaves, animals and natures around humans. Some participants wanted to know which motifs are suitable for young people. Didik mentioned Grompol and Madubronto.

The group two began the visit by observing coastal batik with Reni, the tour guide who explained the type of batik developed in the northern coastal areas of Java, such as Cirebon, Pekalongan, Semarang, Jepara and Lasem. Coastal batik motifs are influenced by China, Gujarat, Arabic, Europe and Japan so the motifs are varied and colorful, such as Pekalongan batik which is known for its rich colors, typical Lasem batik with blood-like red and ‘three-country batik’, which are made in three different places, Surakarta, Lasem and Pekalongan. The story behind ‘batik pagi sore’ (morning and afternoon batik) completed our understanding. During Japan invasion era the price of cloth was very expensive which inspire ideas batik contained two faces on a piece of cloth, so that they could be used alternately morning and evening. Several participants are interested in blue and white batik that looked very elegant there, but the guide told that it was used in grieving occassion. Not only batik, various models of ‘peranakan’ clothes, kebaya and porcelain completed the learning that day.

After observing the various collection of the museum the participants shared their new experiences. Sarlota Wantaar from Southeast Maluku, who study Physics Education at University of Sarjanawiyata Tamansiswa (UST) revealed that she learned the history of batik and understood that batik cloth had certain messages. Florida da Silva from Atambua, also study at UST, said that this visit reminded her childhood when her grandmother invited her to weave and love local culture. "After learning here, I came to know that when we will wear batik-patterned clothes, we shoul think about not just the beautiful looking, but when you wear it, you should know the meaning and purpose of the batik itself," said Florida.

At the end of the session, Trustha, the coordinator of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta encouraged participants to design batik motifs based on their own regions and think about meaning too. Some ideas that emerged, such as ‘Jeumpa flower' motif by Sinar Silalahi, from Aceh who studied at UKDW, and Redy Hartanto, STAK Marturia theology student brought up ‘siger and elephant’ typical motif from Lampung. One week is allocated for the participants to design the motif and on Saturday, 8/12/2018 they will continue the batik making. Let us imagine and pour ideas on a piece of cloth to be batik with local motif. (TRU).