Betawi batik

Betawi batik
2012 Indonesian stamp batik series collection featuring Betawi batik
TypeTextile art
MaterialCambrics, silk, cotton
Production processCraft production
Place of originSunda Kalapa (modern-day Greater Jakarta, Indonesia)
Batik
CountryIndonesia
Reference00170
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2009 (4th session)
ListRepresentative

Betawi batik (/ˈbəʈawɪˈbaʈɪʔ/, lit.'Batavian batik'; Javanese: ꦧꦛꦶꦏ꧀ꦧꦺꦠꦮꦶ, romanized: baṭik Betawi) is a traditional cultural Betawi-style of batik, a Javan art and method of producing colored designs on textile.[1] Native to the northwestern coastal region of Java, specifically within the historic Sunda Kelapa region (modern-day Greater Jakarta). Betawi batik is one of the indigenous Java-origin batiks, originally developed and adopted from their ancestral ancient Javanese (mainly Western Javanese, e.g. Pekalongan Javanese and Cirebon-Indramayu Javanese) cultural textile-making tradition. It is well-known for its vibrant colors and distinctive motifs that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Betawi people.

On 2 October 2009, Batik (including Betawi batik) was internationally recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia.[2] Since then, Batik Day has been annually celebrated, both within Indonesia and by the broader Indonesian diaspora on 2 October to commemorate this global recognition.[3]

Since 2017, as part of Indonesia's cultural heritage preservation efforts, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, has initiated the digitization and official inscription of Betawi batik as an element of the nation's intangible cultural heritage.[4] The designation identifies Greater Jakarta and the Seribu Islands as the associated geographical indication, it is protected under national laws.[4]

Characteristics

Motifs

The motifs of Betawi batik are inspired by the culture of Sunda Kelapa (Greater Jakarta), such as Ondel-ondel (lit.'traditional Betawi giant puppets'), kembang kelapa (lit.'coconut flowers'), nusa kelapa (a symbolic unity motif of Sunda Kalapa land), and Pencak Silat Betawi (lit.'Betawi traditional martial arts').[5]

Colors

Betawi batik is characterized by bright, contrasting colors, often using reds, yellows, blues, and greens, as opposed to ancient Javanese batik that predominantly used earth tones. This shift reflects Betawi's ethnologic branching out from native Sundanese traditions.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Batik", Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/OED/1867416628
  2. ^ "Batik: Indonesia-origin cultural tradition and method". United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  3. ^ Shamasundari, Rebecca (7 February 2021). "Celebrating Indonesia's cultural heritage, batik". The ASEAN Post. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Batik Betawi" [Betawi batik] (in Indonesian). National Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. 2017.
  5. ^ a b Pandanwangi, Ariesa (31 December 2020). "The Jakarta Icon: Stories, Life, and Visual Narrative on Betawi Batik". Art And Design. Novateur Publication. pp. 8–15. ISBN 9788194959793.

Notes