Japanese Batik

Hi everyone,
Today I am going to tell u about Japanese batik which i found a lot interesting but as I researched I received limited information on it. Well whatever information I have I will share.

Japan has introduced different ways of making batik

• Roketsuzome or Rozome (uses wax as a resist)
• Tsutsugaki (uses rice paste)
• Katagami\ katazome (uses washi paper)

Roketsuzome

Roketsuzome also called Rozome. 'Ro' meaning wax, 'ketsu' meaning resist or block out and 'zome' meaning dye. It is a form of resist dyeing in Japan. It is done since the 7th ot 8th century but due to some reasons it's practice declined. It practice revived in the 17th century. As a stamping and dye technique.

Before it was mostly done on cotton but now it is also done on silk. Before it was only done on kimono's and manuscripts and now it is done mostly everywhere like curtains, clothes, bedsheets, etc.

It uses all the colours but the clours white, indigo, black and brown are mostly used.

Indonesian Batik Motif-3

Terang Bulan Motif

Terang Bhulan Motif

Terang Bulan means moonshine. It consists of small triangles ehich comes vertically in the background.

Semen Motif

Semen Motif

It's the Sawat motif about which I wrote before. In Indonesia it is called the Semen Motif. Semen word originated from the word 'semi' meaning bloom, the motif reflects prosperity and happiness.

Nitik Motif

Nitik Motif

This motif is the combination of shapes consisting of squares, rectangle, dots,etc. It is supposed to be taken from Patola works. I found it related to the Jlamprang motif I mentioned before.

References:

Marinaelphick (2014) Parang Batik motif. Available at: https://marinaelphick.com/2014/04/17/parang-batik-motif/ (Accessed: 1 February 2017).

Winiarum (2014) Makna di Balik motif Truntum. Available at: https://rantingkemuning.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/makna-di-balik-motif-truntum/ (Accessed: 23 February 2017).

Indonesian Batik Motif-2

Hello everyone,
On this blog I will let you know about other Indonesian batik motifs.

Truntum Motif

Truntum Motif

Truntum motif is worn by the parents in their children wedding, it's a symbol that parent's can guide their children. The word 'truntum' is derived from the word 'tuntun' which means guidance.

Gringsing Motif

Gringsing Motif

The word Gringsing is derived from the word 'Gering' that means sick and 'sing' meaning not. So Gringding means not sick or against illness. This motif was also influenced by Patola clothes, which originated in India. This motif resembles the skin of the snake and is generally used in the background.

Lereng Motif

Lereng Motif

Lereng motif means a cliff. When the royal family from sakurata escaped they hid themselves in the mountain area for their safety. And then the sultan looked at the cliff and made this motif. I find this motif to be a lot similar to Parang.

References:

winiarum (2014) Makna di Balik motif Truntum. Available at: https://rantingkemuning.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/makna-di-balik-motif-truntum/ (Accessed: 23 February 2017).

Fitinline (2013) Fitinline.Com: Keunikan Makna Filosofi Batik Klasik: Motif Gringsing. Available at: https://fitinline.com/article/read/keunikan-makna-filosofi-batik-klasik-motif-gringsing/ (Accessed: 1 February 2017).

Indonesian Batik Motifs-1

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying this blog. Well, today I will be discussing about Indonesian Batik motifs.

Kawung

Kawung: It is a motif consisting of intersecting circles. . This design has appeared carved into the walls of many temples throughout Java.For many years, this pattern was reserved for the royal court of the Sultan of Jogjakarta. The circles are sometimes embellished inside with two or more small crosses or other ornaments such as intersecting lines or dots. It has been suggested that the ovals might represent flora such as the fruit of the kapok (silk cotton) tree or the aren (sugar palm).

Ceplok Motif

Ceplok: Ceplok is a general name for a whole series of geometric designs based on squares, rhombs, circles, stars, etc. Although fundamentally geometric, ceplok can also represent abstractions and stylization of flowers, buds,seeds and even animals.

Parang Motif

Parang: It has suggested meanings like knife patterns, rugged rock or broken blade. Parang usually alternated with narrower bands in a darker contrasting colour. These darker bands contain another design element, a line of lozenge shaped motifs call mlinjon. There are many variations of this basic striped pattern with its elegant sweeping lines, with over forty parang designs recorded.

References:

Marinaelphick (2014) Kawung batik motif. Available at: https://marinaelphick.com/2014/02/17/kawung-batik-motif/ (Accessed: 23 January 2017)

Fitinline (2013) Fitinline.Com: Keunikan Makna Filosofi Batik Klasik: Motif Gringsing. Available at: https://fitinline.com/article/read/keunikan-makna-filosofi-batik-klasik-motif-gringsing/ (Accessed: 1 February 2017).

Indonesian Batik Procedure

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying my blogs. Well in this blog i will be discussing about the procedure of Indonesian Batik. In Indonesia, batik is done in two ways

• By using Canting tool
• By using Cap\ Cooper Stamps

By Using Canting Tool

• The cloth is washed in water to remove extra startch.
• The design is outlined with a pencil.
• The wax is poured in the canting tool.
• The wax is applied via canting tool.
  
• The wax is left to dry.
• The fabric is then dyed.
• The process is repeated if multiple colours are needed.
• Once the cloth is dyed in all the wanted colours, it is suspended in boiling water for removal of wax.
• Batik cloth is ready.

By using Cooper Stamps

• The cloth is washed in water to remove extra startch.
• The lines are drawn so that where the clock is stamped is known.
• The wax is applied on the cooper stamp and then is stamped.
  
• The wax is left to dry.
• The fabric is then dyed.
• The process is repeated if multiple colours are needed.
• Once the cloth is dyed in all the wanted colours, it is suspended in boiling water for removal of wax.
• Batik cloth is ready.

References:

Behance (no date) Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/47738987/Indonesian-Batik (Accessed: 18 January 2017).

Indonesian Batik- Material and Tools

Hello everyone,

Today I will be discussing about different material and tools that Indonesian Batik uses. Well, as I said before Batik is a wax resist technique. It uses beeswax or paraffin as wax ;canting tool, cooper stamps (also called a cap) or brushes are used to apply wax and it is best done on cotton and silk cloth which are quite thick.

Canting tool

Cooper block stamp\ C

Canting tool: Body canting is the wax reservoir it is the place where hot wax is kept(you can take it as a refill of a pen); Beak is the place from where the wax comes out from (you can take it as a tip of the pen)and handle is of course, the place where you hold it. Canting tool was found in Java.

Wajan

Cooper block Stamp: It is made of 1.5 cm wide cooper stripsthat is bent into the shape of a motif small piece of wired is added to the stamp to give it more details. When it is properly shaped it is attached to a handle. It helps in applying wax.Firstly you have to apply wax on the stamp and then you have to stamp it on a cloth and as you can see it does a 2 hrs work in 5 mins. These stamps were found in Dutch or China.

Wajan: Wajan is a container that holds wax. Normally it is made of iron or Earthen ware. It is normally placed over a brick, charcoal or a spirit burner called 'anglo'.


Wax: Indonesian Batik  uses different types of wax. Commonly used wax are beeswax and Paraffin Wax. Resins and animal fats are supposed to be added in it. It is said that the best waxes are from the Indonesian Islands of Timor, Sumbava and Sumata. Petroleum based Paraffin wax comes in white, yellow and black colour.

 I will write about the procedure of batik in Indonesia in my next blog.

References:

Behance (no date) Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/47738987/Indonesian-Batik (Accessed: 18 January 2017).

http://www.senikraf.com/cat_batik.htm (Accessed: 18 January 2017).

Indonesian Batik

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all finding my blog informative. Today I am going to discuss about Indonesian Batik.

In October 2' 2009, Indonesian batik was designated by UNESCO,  as the Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Since then, on every Friday citizens of Indonesia wear Batik and even they celebrate October 2 as a National Batik Day.

Batik Child Sling

The culture of Indonesia is very well related to batik. Infants are carried in batik slings which are designed with the symbols that are believed to bring child luck.
A person's rank can be determined by the pattern of batik he wears. Some deigns there are even reserved there for brides, bridegroom and even for there relatives. There they even celebrate a ceremony called Naloni Mitoni in which women wear seven layers of cloth when there child touches the Earth for the first time.

References:

Batik, the traditional fabric of Indonesia. Available at: http://www.expat.or.id/info/batik.html (Accessed: 15 January 2017).

THE HISTORY AND TECHNIQUE OF BATIK. Available at: http://www.asia-art.net/indonesian_batik.html (Accessed: 15 January 2017).

Indonesian Batiks (no date) Available at: http://www.indobatiks.com/ (Accessed: 16 January 2017).