Exploring The Exotic Motifs

of Waropen Batik

Joint activity with Youth and Sports Agency

of Waropen Regency, Papua

Waropen is a new district that established in 2003. Previously this area was part of Yapen Waropen regency. Waropen has potencies with vast mangrove forests and mangrove crabs fishery. This regency is known as 'the city of 1000 mangroves' because it is surrounded by mangrove forest almost on its coastline. A large potential asset that can be processed as source of regional income to improve community welfare.

Being a representative of Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta to Waropen regency to share knowledge and to transfer skills was a great gift and a very memorable experience, because it was the first time for me to set foot in the Land of Papua. Sharing with youth and community there about what batik is, how to make batik and its philosophy as well as exploring the potency of youth by having exotic motifs from Waropen into batik became an exciting activities. It cannot be separated from the program initiated by the Waropen Youth and Sports Agency in collaboration with Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta, a student service based in Yogyakarta with a program 'Batik Training and Batik-Based Productive Businesses'.

The journey to Waropen was really a challenge. Not just far in the eastern part of Indonesia, it took several flight transits and sea transportation modes. Accompanied by Mr. Enos Refasi (the division head of Youth and Sport agency of Waropen regency) and Mr Iron Kayai (the division’s staff), we started the journey on December 21, 2019 at 3 p.m by flying from Yogyakarta to Surabaya, then to Makassar. At 11.45 p.m WITA (local time), we arrived in Makassar and changed the plane to Biak. At 07.00 a.m local time, the plane landed at Biak, and still continued to Serui. It turned out that the trip had not yet finished in Serui, because we still took speed boat for two hours to get to Waropen. Finally, on 22 December 2019 at 3 p.m local time we really arrived at our destination safely. What an exciting journey to have experience about the reality of Indonesia's transportation within the archipelago frame!

A warm welcome of Waropen people with its traditional welcomes was so touching and made me forget the long exhausting journey. I also learned about the natures of Papua with its very dense forest. My tiredness was relieved by excitement when I met some participants who had ever participated in batik training at Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta last July 2019. We discussed together the batik activities that we would do tomorrow.

The batik training was held on December 23, 2019 at 09.00 a.m which was officially opened by the head of the Youth and Sports Agency. At 11.00 a.m I started with introduction about batik to all participants by explaining the history of batik, the spread of batik motifs in Java island and showing tools and materials for batik. After the discussion about the process and materials for making batik, we continued to draw motifs on paper assisted directly by the participants who had been trained in Yogyakarta, by exploring local motifs from Waropen such as flowers, birds, crabs and some musical instruments.

After lunch, the training continued with drawing motifs on the cloth following the motifs that had been drawn on paper, followed by pouring the wax and coloring process in two techniques, namely ‘colet’ (using brush) and dyeing. According to the participants, dyeing technique was easier beacuse it did not take longer process. For those having drawing hobby, they chose ‘colet’ technique because it has color variation.

From these activities, I found out the interest among youth toward batik and many potencies can be developed here. Its native natures, various plants, coral reefs, diverse fish and birds, and beautiful mangrove forests can be the inspiration for local motifs of Waropen batik that can be packaged in creative industries managed by youth. This can be known from the statements of those who have learned in Yogyakarta and actively shared about batik to their art group members.

Although just one day, I feel so satisfied that I have shared understanding and ways to make batik in order to produce products that are ready to be sold and accepted by all groups. Be creative youth so that you can transfer ideas to others and hand in hand to establish better Indonesia. (EP).