Uniting the Nation Through Batik

BULETIN TEKSTIL.COM/ Jakarta – The celebration of Batik Day throughout October 2022 is still vibrant. After 2 years of not being held due to the pandemic, throughout last October, people in various regions seemed so enthusiastic and expressive in celebrating it.

In Jakarta, the Indonesian Batik Foundation held the longest Fashion Street, starting from the HI Roundabout to the front of the FX Mall. This activity is also recorded in MURI.

Likewise in Jambi, the activities carried out broke the MURI record in wearing the most Jambi Batik. The event was attended by tens of thousands of ASN in 9 Regency Governments and 2 City Governments.

In Malang, around 580 people with disabilities make 500 m splash batik at the Malang City monument roundabout. This activity is also recorded in the MURI. While in Solo, commemorate by wearing a kebaya with the First Lady, Iriana Jokowi.

In other areas there are still many areas that commemorate it in their own way. Likewise with Indonesian representatives who are in other countries.

Batik does not only belong to certain tribes or communities. Its existence has spread in various corners of the archipelago to representatives in foreign countries. All have the same rights and obligations in developing and preserving Indonesia’s original cultural heritage.

Because of this similarity, national unity will be established through a piece of ‘wastra’ (traditional cloth of the archipelago). Through a work of cultural heritage in the process of decorating a cloth called batik.

It is a matter of pride to be able to develop and preserve batik. While the technical development is carried out in various ways according to each regional character.

One example is that of batik from Kediri. The moment of National Batik Day was used not only to hold works in batik parades and batik bazaars but also to strengthen regional vision and character by holding Jagongan Batik carrying the theme, Finding the Identity of Kediren Batik.

Two experts attended the event as resource persons i.e. Adi Kusrianto as a lecturer and batik book writer and Adi Wahyono as a batik craftsman from Kediri who just won the Kediri Regency batik motif.

In the dialogue, Adi Kusrianto motivates the batik makers to be enthusiastic about producing works that reflect the batik character of Kediren.

Based on history, gringsing batik pattern comes from Kediri. It was based on a reference from the Dutch writer, Gerret Pieter Rouffaer (1860-1928).

In his book De Batik Kunst in Nederlandsch Indie, he mentions that the Gringsing pattern has existed since the 12th century in Kediri.

He concluded that the pattern could only be made with a pen called a canting.

Meanwhile, Adi Wahyono stated that it was time for Kediri to have batik that had character, reflecting regional characteristics. The character can be raised through the motif or coloring.

Besides Kediri, Pasuruan also held a unique event on Batik Day. They held a Batik Camp event with a batik discussion agenda and sharing knowledge in batik and also making batik umbrellas.

The moment of National Batik Day is increasingly opening awareness that batik seems to be ‘ingrained’ in society. The hope, through the work will strengthen the unity of the archipelago. Synergy exists everywhere.

And more importantly, may this surge not only be a moment of commemoration. However, it is sustainable and continues to rise to raise the distinctive culture of the archipelago on the world stage.

The Beginning of Batik Day

What is the chronology of the birth of National Batik Day?

Batik was first introduced to the international world by President Suharto while attending a United Nations conference.

Indonesian batik was registered for intangible cultural heritage (ICH) status through the UNESCO office in Jakarta by the office of the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, representing the Government of Indonesia and the Indonesian batik community, on September 4, 2008.

On January 9, 2009, the application for batik for UNESCO’s Humanitarian Heritage for Oral and Intangible Culture was officially accepted, and batik was confirmed at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage held by UNESCO in Abu Dhabi on 2 October 2009.

At the trial, batik was officially registered as a Humanitarian Heritage of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Culture at UNESCO.

The Indonesian government issued Presidential Decree No. 33 of 2009 which stipulates the National Batik Day as well in order to increase public awareness of efforts to protect and develop Indonesian batik.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Hadi Prabowo signed Circular Letter Number 003.3/10132/SJ regarding the Use of Batik Shirts in the Context of National Batik Day 2 October 2019.

Based on the circular, the Ministry of Home Affairs appealed to all officials and employees within the provincial and district/city governments to wear batik clothes on Wednesday.

(Red B-Teks/ Ratna Devi)

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