Iwan Tirta delights batik enthusiasts in Jimbaran
By Rita A. Widiadana
JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): For the multitalented artist and designer Iwan Tirtaatmaja, popularly known by art lovers as Iwan Tirta, batik is more than just a piece of cloth. Batik embodies the culture and philosophy of Indonesian people.
After more than 40 years of dedicated work, Iwan has earned a reputation among local and international art buffs as Indonesia's leading batik artist. Most of his life has been dedicated to the development and preservation of batik art. He tirelessly displays his superb works around the world: from his hometown of Jakarta to other cosmopolitan cities of New York, London, Paris, or even the remote island of Mauritius.
Iwan delighted his faithful admirers in Bali last week with a series of unparalleled batik creations on display during an exclusive show at the Four Seasons Resort in Jimbaran Bay, as well as an elaborate batik exhibition entitled Batik Continuity and Change at the Ganesha Gallery also at the resort.
The exhibition opened on July 23 and will continue until Aug. 16.
The fashion show was attended by fashion designer Josephine Komara (Obin), who now spends most of her time in Bali, and also actress and veteran model Rima Melati. More than 800 distinguished guests flocked to the show.
Gallery manager and curator Ambar. B. Arini said that this was part of the venue's annual arts program.
"This year, we want to present contemporary batik art by Iwan Tirta. We want our guests to obtain adequate knowledge about our most ancient art forms," Ambar said after the show.
The fashion show displayed most of Iwan's lavish evening gowns, mainly in prada (gold embroidery), one of his trademarks. A number of male models exhibited a series of inspiring batik outfits, some complemented with lengths of batik cloth.
At the back of the stage, Iwan was busy dressing his models. The youngest of five born to an intellectual family, Iwan obtained his masters degree in International Law in the early 1960s from Yale University in the United States.
His devotion to classical Javanese dance and batik art, however, totally changed his destiny. Instead of becoming a lawyer or professor of law, Iwan nurtured his career in batik art. He extensively modified and reinterpreted classical batik patterns into more contemporary styles without losing their original philosophical meanings.
At the same time, he documented existing traditional batik patterns from all over Indonesia. He is one of the pioneers in the design and production of Western-style batik dresses.
The batik exhibition which also displays batik garments, wall- hangings and Iwan's most recent experiments on earthenware products elaborately decorated with various batik patterns.
During the exhibition, Iwan displayed his skill in the art, engrossing himself in the creation of a design. Using a canting, a special tool used to draw batik patterns, Iwan mesmerized many of the visitors.
"Creating batik cloth becomes a journey to my inner world. It is my most peaceful and inspirational moment," Iwan once said in his Jakarta studio.