Batik Short Couse Day
Batik Short Course Day. International Office of Telkom University, in collaboration with Textile & Fashion Design study program, organized Batik Short Course few days ago (4/3/2020). There were 15 international Darmasiswa and exchange students coming from various countries involved in the program. This program aimed to give international students opportunity to expose more, even deeper, to the Indonesian culture. Along with the rapid advances in technology, especially in the field of fashion, Batik, as one of our proud cultures, has been now known and even worn all over the world.
According to Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Batik is a pictorial fabric that is made specifically by writing or applying wax to the fabric, then processing it in a certain way, or commonly known as batik cloth (KBBI, 2007). UNESCO has designated Indonesian Batik as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2 October 2009, in term of a whole of techniques, technology, and the development of related motifs and culture.
Therefore, through Batik Short Course program, we intended to proudly introduce Indonesian Batik including the process of making Batik to the international students. The opening ceremony of the Batik Short Course was attended by the dean of the School of Creative Industries, Dr. Roro Retno Wulan, S.Sos, M.Pd., Head of Textile & Fashion Design study program, Faradillah Nursari, B.Des., M.Ds., lecturers of Telkom University, and International Office representatives.
Assisted by the lecturers as well as the assistant lecturers of Telkom University, all participants were so enthusiast to learn Batik. The course was started with brief overview on what Batik is and the philosophy of the Batik itself. Right after the introduction of Batik, the participants were asked to practice making a motif on the piece of fabric. They were free to draw anything they like such as common batik motif, flower, animal, etc.
Then, they tried to apply hot wax on their motif using “canting”. Most of the participants found this process was so difficult. It needs patience and persistence, for sure. Besides canting process, the participants also got a chance to try making batik using “Cap” process. This one was easier yet the motif was not as natural as canting process. After taking around 4 hours in canting and cap process, the participants had coloring process, drying process, “lorot” process, and re-drying process.
The process of making Batik was totally unique and challenging. However all participants were so enjoying the process. Moreover when their Batik were done, it truly turned great. Yes, result never betray the process, after all. Ms. Morinta Rosandini, S.Ds., M.Ds, one of the lecturers in the program expressed her wishes during the program. “Through this event, it is expected that the participants can appreciate more deeply about Indonesian Culture, especially Batik, and of course they can bring the experience to their home country and share about Batik. Besides we hope they have a better understanding regarding the meaning and process of making batik itself.”(IO)***
