“For centuries, Batik has played a vital part in the creative economy of Indonesia, initially traded locally then further afield in the islands of archipelago, and more recently internationally.”
Fiona Kerlogue
Fiona Kerlogue
Author of Batik : Design, Style and History with Tara Sosrowardoyo. Deputy Keeper of Anthropology at Horniman Museum, UK. Fiona Kerlogue has a PhD in South-East Asian Studies Anthropology from University of Hull and an MA in film from the University of Westminster.
WORLD BATIK SUMMIT
INDONESIA : GLOBAL HOME OF BATIK
Indonesia recently hosted a big “Batik” event, called World Batik Summit 2011. This event was held on September 28th - October 2nd 2011. Joop Ave, former Indonesia’s Tourism Minister, acted as the founder of this international Batik exhibition.
At this event, various designs and patterns of an antique Batik was displayed. Through these old and antique fabrics, people can see that Batik is an art of combined cultures. Or we can called it as a cultural melting pot. Just to see a glimpse of kain Batik sheet people can see various cultural symbols and significance, starting from Indonesia, India, China, Arab, and Europe.
Supported by Periplus, this event also held a Batik Books Exhibition that provided us with books of informations and knowledges about Batik, which came in various languages. Not only in Bahasa, but also in English, France, Deutch, Russian, and others. It can help people from other countries to learn and love Batik as an art.
The event had a Batik conference with lots of International Batik experts and conservasionist (read: Batik as a technique) attended it. Such as Prof. Masakatzu Tozu (Japan), Dr. Maria Wronska Friend (United Kingdom), Joachim Blank (Germany), Annegret Haake (Germany), Briggite Willach (Germany), Dr. Fiona G. Kerlogue (United Kingdom), Dr. Renske Heringa (Netherlands), and from Indonesia we got designer Carmanita, Hani Winotosastro, also Prof. Dr. Biranul Anas Zaman (Institut Teknologi Bandung). Each one of them are an art figure, a researcher, and Batik conservationist.
Who the Participants?
The Participants coming from Indonesian Ministries, Indonesian n International Galleries, Batik Boutique, Batik Store, Collectors, Researchers, Lecturers, Batik maker, Designers, Buyers, Art People and public.
At the end of the conference, they all achieved a World Batik Summit Declaration. This whole event are closed with traditional Indonesian dance performance and a fashion show by designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Japan.
To see many foreign researcher took Batik as their research topic as well as their work of art, Delima realize that it effect our consciousness as an Indonesian. Batik is a work of art and a long historical journey that highly worthy to be appreciated and conserved. Like what Fiona Kerlogue said above, we can say that Batik are affects both local as well as international people. Thats why, we should Know Indonesia and Love Indonesia as a global home of Batik.
More about Fiona Kerlogue
Wait for our next articles about style of Batik in Europe.
Know Indonesia. Love Indonesia.
