Industrialization threatens existence of traditional batik<\/p>\n
By Akmad Solikhan<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Batik tulis (fine batik) is a noble artwork
\nwhich needs to be preserved. Our ancestors used their skillful
\nhands to express ideas through stone, wood and brass and created
\ndecorative ornaments. Their art later developed into the making
\nof clothes known as batik tulis.<\/p>\n
Various artworks in this country will be marginalized sooner
\nor later by the changes of time if people are not aware of this
\nat an early stage. With their cultural heritage, Yogyakarta and
\nSurakarta should logically preserve and maintain them. Batik
\ntulis has a historical value which cannot be measured in terms of
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
The emergence of print and stamp batik produced by modern
\nmachines on a large scale has adversely affected batik tulis on
\nthe market. Factory made batik is far lower in price compared to
\nbatik tulis. Batik motives integrating contrasting colors look
\nmore attractive. Batik tulis preserved its characteristic colors
\nof brown, blue, black and yellow. The motives of animals and
\nflowers are also monotonous.<\/p>\n
Industrialization has crushed the small enterprises of batik
\ntulis in villages. This has resulted in most batik tulis workers
\nleaving home to join batik factories.<\/p>\n
Print and stamp batik with its more attractive motives diverts
\nthe consumer's attention. But from a quality aspect, batik tulis
\ndoes not easily fade. Its fine quality with traditional motives
\nremains incomparable and people still hunt for it despite its
\nmuch higher price.<\/p>\n
Some batik manufacturers continue to defend the existence of
\nbatik tulis. In Taman, a kampong located in the Patehan area not
\nfar from Yogyakarta palace, nearly one third of residents are
\nbatikmakers. Foreign tourists from various countries come every
\nyear, especially in the holiday season of June to August. They
\nusually go there after visiting kraton, Tamansari fortress and
\nthe Nagsem bird market.<\/p>\n
A Taman resident, Moedjido, 70, said batik tulis was still
\nsought after by both foreign and domestic tourists in the early
\n1970s. Employing three workers, he managed to sell 200 to 240
\npieces of batik tulis a month.<\/p>\n
However, the prosperity experienced by Moedjido, a father of
\nsix, did not last long. Ten years later, batik tulis was
\novershadowed by the progress of time. Foreign tourists were no
\nlonger on the lookout for traditional batik motives but for those
\nin the form of souvenirs like fans, wallets and paintings of
\nlegends of the heroine, Nyi Loro Kidul, the queen of the south
\ncoast. Paintings also depict Prambanan and Borobudur temples,
\nMount Merapi as well. Also found on paintings are images of
\nwayang, gamelan, kraton and Sultan Hamengkubuwono.<\/p>\n
"The change in market demand has downsized the batik tulis
\nindustry. But I will not be influenced by lower consumer demand
\nwhich endangers traditional culture. I will continue my efforts
\nto preserve batik tulis as an invaluable culture," said Moedjido,
\nwho learned the technique of batik at the age of 10.<\/p>\n
In order to preserve the traditional culture, Moedjido took
\npains to pass on his skills by opening a course on batik in 1983
\nin his modest house. Many foreign tourists join the course for
\none or two weeks to learn the skill of designing motives and
\nmaking batik. Some have further developed their skills and opened
\nbatik shops in the Netherlands. Foreign tourists pay from Rp
\n50,000 to Rp 75,000 for three hours. Tools and equipment are
\nprovided with the course fee.<\/p>\n
A number of handicraft industry high schools (SMIK) from
\nvarious cities use Moedjido's home for practical work. The
\nstudents learn to make batik in about three months. The cost is
\nRp 60,000 per student but they must buy all the tools and
\nequipment themselves. "I have two instructors to teach batik-
\nmaking," said Moedjido.<\/p>\n
In order to meet foreign tourists' demands, many batik artists
\ncan be found on the sidewalks of Prawirotaman, Tirtodipuran,
\nMalioboro, Sosrowijayan and around kraton, the tourists' beaten
\ntrack.<\/p>\n
Sagi, 31, has set up his business on Prawirotaman and can sell
\ntwo batik paintings a day. A painting measuring 30 centimeters by
\n50 centimeters costs between Rp 25,000 and Rp 50,000. He paints
\nby request only. It takes him about six hours to finish one
\npainting.<\/p>\n
As a street batik painter, Sagi does not intend to change the
\nstandard motives of traditional batik. He only tries to meet his
\ndaily cost of living. "I grew up in a family of batikmakers.
\nBecause traditional batik is vanishing as a result of the
\nindustrialization of it, I started painting batik on the
\nstreets," said Sagi, a father of three.<\/p>\n
It is indeed very dilemmatic to defend traditional culture if,
\non the other hand, one must earn enough to make ends meet. The
\nregional government should inject a new spirit to foster the
\nculture of traditional batik in Yogyakarta and Surakarta. With
\nadequate funds and facilities, it would be possible to restore
\nthe batik tulis art form through small industries as a non-oil
\ncommodity on the free market.<\/p>",
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