Batik- An ancient art and craft

BATIK is a cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax resist dying technique.

The art of decorating cloth in this way, using wax & dye, has been practised for centuries.

In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, & some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese tik & means to dot.

Evidence of early examples of batik have been found in the Far East, Middle East, Central Asia & India from over 2000 years ago. It is conceivable that these areas developed independently, without the influence from trade or cultural exchanges. However, it is more likely that the craft spread from Asia to the islands of the Malay Archipelago & west to the Middle East through the caravan route.

Batik was practised in China as early as the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618). These were silk batiks & these have also been discovered in Nara, Japan in the form of screens & ascribed to the Nara period (AD 710-794). It is probable that these were made by Chinese artists. They are decorated with trees, animals, flute players, hunting scenes & stylised mountains.

Production of Batik cloth in Java, Indonesia. 1912

To make batik, selected areas of the cloth are blocked out by brushing or drawing hot wax over them & the cloth is then dyed. The parts covered in wax resist the dye & remain the original colour. This process of waxing & dyeing can be repeated to create more elaborate & colourful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed & the cloth is ready for wearing or showing.

Indonesian Sarong from Java Circa 1880

In one form or another, batik has worldwide popularity. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in (particularly) Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal & Singapore. 

Now, not only is batik used as a material to clothe the human body, its uses also include furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths & household accessories. Batik techniques are used by famous artists to create batik paintings, which grace many homes & offices.

Bernadette Madden Batik -

Beth McCoy Pointillist Batik – pinpointed wax dots are applied with a kitske for droplet effect.

Ciara Eloise Nolan

References include:

http://www.batikguild.org.uk/history.asp

http://www.batikartbybeth.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batik

http://www.artistsonline.com/fiber/batik.htm