Batik course revives city's Textile Museum<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Where is the best place in the capital to get first-hand
\nexperience in dyeing batik, traditional Indonesian fabric, for
\nonly Rp 250,000 (US$29.41)?<\/p>\n
Such a program is offered by the city-run Textile Museum on
\nJl. K.S. Tubun No. 4, Tanah Abang, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The six-day course has been going on for the past three years
\nand has become one of the main attractions of the museum, apart
\nfrom its collection of numerous traditional costumes from all
\nover Indonesia.<\/p>\n
For a relatively small amount of money, interested people,
\nboth locals and foreigners, can take the course that teaches both
\nthe theory and practice of making batik and other traditional
\nclothes.<\/p>\n
Each participant will get a starting kit of a canting
\n(dipper), a tiny pan and a small kerosene stove to melt the wax
\nthat is used in the process. The kit can also serve as a nice
\nsouvenir.<\/p>\n
The course also includes molani (drafting and designing motifs
\nwith a pencil), nglowongi (drawing the pencil-draft motifs using
\na dipper), nerusi (continuing the drawing process with a dipper),
\nmbironi (coloring the background) and nglorod (wax removal).<\/p>\n
Part of the course will take students to the museum's nearby
\ngarden to observe the dye-producing plants. This serves to
\nenlighten participants on the traditional way of dyeing, even
\nthough most fabrics these days use mass-produced synthetic dyes.
\nNevertheless, a small number of batik artists in rural Javanese
\nregions still use the natural dye to produce their traditional
\nclothes.<\/p>\n
Bayu Niti Purnama, an official with the museum, said that the
\ncourse was a breakthrough and had injected new life into the
\nmuseum, which previously had little recognition from the public.<\/p>\n
\"Before we had the course, we only had a few visitors. They
\nwere probably fed up with the boring regular displays,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post recently, adding that it was a common problem
\nfor other museums across the city.<\/p>\n
\"Since the batik program started three years ago, people have
\nstarted visiting the museum not only to enjoy the displays, but
\nalso for the course,\"<\/p>\n
At present, there is a waiting list for people who want to
\ntake the course.<\/p>\n
\"We have between five and 10 people every week who line up to
\nenjoy the experience,\" Bayu proudly said.<\/p>\n
The Textile Museum hosts hundreds of rare centuries-old
\ntraditional designs, woven products and accessories.<\/p>\n
Situated next to a bustling street leading to the Tanah Abang
\ntextile market, the largest in Southeast Asia, the museum
\nbuilding is incongruous in the midst of street vendors' makeshift
\ntents surrounding it.<\/p>\n
The art-deco building is an attraction in itself. Movie and
\nvideo directors have several times shot their films in the well-
\nmaintained building and its surrounding garden.<\/p>\n
The building was originally built as a private residence for a
\nFrench expatriate in the 19th century. It was later purchased by
\nTurkey, as the official residence of envoy Abdul Aziz al Musawi.<\/p>\n
The building changed ownership from the envoy to a Dutch
\nfamily, then to a Chinese-Indonesian family and finally the
\ngovernment, before it became the Textile Museum in June 1976.<\/p>\n
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3
\np.m.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/batik-course-revives-citys-textile-museum-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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