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| unassuming exterior |
In case you haven't already figured it out, batik is HUGE in Indonesia! If (like me) you have not developed an appreciation for it before you come to Indonesia, after spending any length of time here you will acquire at least some level of appreciation for the art.
There is definitely a kind of Bubba Gump thing when it comes to batik. Here you can buy batik dresses, batik shirts, batik bags, batik table coverings, batik shoes, batik backpacks, batik scarves, batik wall hangings, batik quilts, batik any and every thing you can possibly think of! There is cheap batik and expensive batik, depending on how it's made, the fabric and patterns used, where it comes from, etc. However, it all seems relatively inexpensive to me considering how time and labor intensive the batik process is. That said, I would probably faint if I really knew what some batiks are sold for.
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| large portrait made of batik, founder Hasanudi |
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| outside waxing and stamping area |
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| young worker hand paints on stamped design |
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| cap printing technique using metal stamp |
Another thing about batik that I have learned this week is that every part of Indonesian has its own unique style of batik. Someone who is well versed in batik might quickly be able to determine what part of Asia a particular batik comes from.
I've been wanting to visit a batik factory and see the actual process and Ronnie and I have even thought it might be fun to take an introductory class. If nothing else it would be a fun way to pass an afternoon and give us a better appreciation of the process.
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| full time project takes 1 month to complete |
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| canting method being used |
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So after we finished picking strawberries yesterday, Helen and I visited Studio Hasan Batik. It is a working batik studio, as well as a store that carries many of their made-on-site products. Hasan Batik was named after its founder, Hasanudin who was a lecturer at the Bandung Technology Institute (where Ronnie teaches). He pioneered his own particular style of batik back in 1980. He died in 1994 but his brothers continue to carry on the family business.
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| dying the waxed fabric in wood trough |
We were able to watch the production process in various stages. Both the traditional batik design as well as
cap batik (printing using a metal stamp) along with a combination of both the
cap printing technique and the
canting (a small dipper used to apply wax) were being used. After the wax is applied to the fabric (by either or both methods) the fabric is dyed and then hung or laid to dry.
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| dyed fabric hanging to dry |
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several of many metal stamp patterns
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After watching the artists at work and taking a few photos, we shopped inside with a new appreciation for the process and art of batik.
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| canting piece requires 1 month to complete, sells for $100US |
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| batik scarves and fabric for sale |
I continue to be amazed at the variety of subjects you educate all of us on. I had no idea how long it took to design batik. Next time I see batik I'm certainly going to have a greater appreciation for the art involved in the finished product.
ReplyDeleteLinda, my knowledge of batik would still fit in a thimble, but I do find it amazing that the lady doing the canting method above (her "pen" is made from bamboo) can sit there drawing all day long, 6 days a week for a solid month and that piece of fabric will sell for $100 US! And of course that's only what it sells for, not what she herself makes.
ReplyDeleteIf she works 8 hours at day, 6 days a week, that's 48 hours. Multiple by 4 and figure that's 192 hours she sits there in that same spot doing that each month. That wouldn't even be 50 cents an hour and you know that she herself doesn't make 100% of what the piece is sold for. Assume the materials cost a certain percent and there is another percent for mark up. I wonder what that really leaves her making per hour??!