The Indonesian Batik Foundation (YBI) in collaboration with the Jakarta Textile Museum decorated the Jakarta Textile Museum Building with ancient and classic batik fabrics at the exhibition entitled "Revealing the Symbolic Meaning of Batik Motifs in a Pandemic Era". This was done to enliven the 2021 National Batik Day activities on Saturday (2/10/2021). The exhibition presented various motifs of classic batik cloth, namely patchwork, gringsing, and udan lyrical motifs. These three motifs were chosen because they are considered to have meanings that are relevant to the current situation.
Another classic batik that is also presented at the exhibition at the Textile Museum is the udan lyrical batik. This batik motif is one of the batik motifs that are regulated for use in the Keraton Surakarta and Yogyakarta.
At first glance, the batik motif looks simple with a diagonal pattern like raindrops being blown by the wind. This motif symbolizes human fortitude to face the heat and rain of life. Because, problems in life are sometimes given by God for the good of humans.
To note, at the exhibition, the Indonesian Batik Foundation displayed 65 ancient and classic batik fabrics. Some of the batik is decades old.
These batiks are collections belonging to YBI and several batik-loving collectors. Some of the collections displayed are long patchwork cloth with colorful nitik motifs, Pekalongan patchwork batik with coastal batik motifs, and long gringsing fabric with a bouquet of three countries motifs. DOCK. YBI Batik cloth displayed in the Batik fever Exhibition.
Most of the batik cloths on display are from Central Java. As is known, the spread of batik is because the history of Indonesian batik is closely related to the history of various kingdoms in Central Java.
However, YBI also displays batik cloth from outside Java. As is known, the spread of batik outside Java was influenced by inter-royal relations and trade relations at that time.
Through this exhibition, YBI hopes that the public can get to know and understand Indonesian batik cloth better. Mainly, batik cloth motifs which have a long historical record and are increasingly rare and difficult to find due to the limitations of batik.
Not only that, the exhibition also aims to make people aware of the importance of preserving Indonesian batik cloth motifs. This is expected to encourage the regeneration of workers in the batik industry sector.
The exhibition is also in line with YBI's big theme, namely Healing Tree Batik Fever. Healing Tree is a giant tree installation which has the meaning of giving breath of life and new spirit. This is intended for the national batik industry which is expected to recover after the pandemic.
In addition to holding exhibitions, during the Covid-19 pandemic, YBI has also provided assistance through various social activities that were handed over directly to craftsmen.
The assistance is in the form of smart phones, canting tools, electric stoves, the need for raw materials for making batik, and funds so that craftsmen can continue to work.
Through Healing Tree Batik Fever, YBI wants to invite all levels of society to be proud of batik and care about the sustainability of the regeneration of Indonesian batik.
