Batik Peranakan
Temporary Exhibition
“Chinese
crossbreed community has an important role in the development of culture and
batik industry in Indonesia, especially Java island. Historically the progress
of the Chinese crossbreed community took place in stages so as to achieve a
certain level of expertise and design choices. No wonder some of the batik
products made by Chinese crossbreed batik entrepreneurs, known as Chinese
Crossbreed Batik, are very well known for their smoothness, design, motifs and
colors. For instance, batik products produced by batik companies Oey Soe Tjoen,
The Tie Siet, Lie Boen Len, Tjoa Giok Tjiam and so on have become part of the
important collections of various famous museums and collectors in Indonesia and
abroad.”
(William
Kwan Hwie Liong)
Apart from the existence of batik as a cultural and industrial
work that is spread in various countries, Indonesian batik is the only one that
until now has gained international recognition. On October 2, 2009 Indonesian
batik was confirmed as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
If I usually attended a temporary exhibition with a duration of
one week or more, this time the temporary exhibition was only held for three
days (including exhibition opening). This temporary exhibition was held in
collaboration with Indonesian Cross-Cultural Community and Bentara Budaya by
displaying a small selected collection by a collector, Hartono Sumarsono, and
supported by the collection of Irwan Julianto, a literary lover and retired
Kompas Daily journalist. The collections display consisted of old batik and
reproduction representing various batik centers of the coast of Java, ranging
from Cirebon, Indramayu, Tegal, Pekalongan, Kedungwuni, Batang, Lasem, Kudus,
Demak, to Sidoarjo; moreover, non-Javanese coastal batik such as Tasikmalaya, Garut,
Banyumas/Purwokerto, Yogyakarta and Solo.
Kain Panjang - Katura from Cirebon with Kylin & Hong Bird
Motif
Irwan Julianto’s Collection
Kie Lin
& Hong Bird
The
beast that had the trust to take God and Goddess wherever they went was named
Kie Lin. Furthermore, hong bird (Feng Huang) is often referred to as the
phoenix, although it is actually different from the phoenix which originated
from Egypt.
The
colors on the feathers of the hong bird symbolize five good qualities, namely:
black symbolizes loyalty, white honesty, red politeness, green justice and
yellow generosity.
If a
dragon is a yang, hong bird is yin. If the dragon is the symbol of the
emperor, the hong bird represents the empress. In Java, the hong bird in
batik was considered to repel reinforcements.
The dragon juxtaposed with the hong bird symbolizes the
happiness marital.
Batik Lawas Collection
This batik motif felt special due to remind me of one of my
grandmother’s collections with a similar motif.
One of the Collector that was Explaining the Collections to the
Visitor
The Isen Nguku Motif in Kedungwuni’s Style
The Isen Tutul Paris Motif in Pekalongan’s Style
The Isen Nguku Motif on Flower Petals & Sawutan Motif
Oey Soe Tjoen Batik Design
Isen
Motif as the Batik Complementary
In
batik, not all paintings are the main motif, but there are also those called as
isen motifs or complementary motifs.
Isen
can be translated as "stuffing", pictures that serve to fill the main
ornaments in batik.
Although as a complement, isen is always adjusted to the main
motif to make it look solid, unified and fit.
Duta Batik Peranakan Book
Indonesian Ministry of Tourism
Oey Soe Tjoen (2014, 228 pages)
Exhibition’s Collection
Hartono Sumarsono’s Collection
Enjing Sonten - Mevr. Tan Tjeng Tong
Hartono Sumarsono’s Collection
Cu-Kin
Baby Carrier
Katura Cirebon Reproduction
1940s
Katura
Batik Studio
Katura
Batik Studio was formed in 2007 which is located on Trusmi Kulon Street No.5
Plered District, Cirebon Regency. The owner of this batik studio is
Katura AR, a 58 year old man who is the eighth generation of his family who
makes batik.
He has
successfully maintained and preserved 412 classic “Cirebonan” batik
motifs. Some of the original batik motifs that can be preserved are Mega
Mendung, Taman Arum, Naga Seba, Wadasan and Singa Payung. He received an
award from MURI (Indonesian Record Museum) for making handmade batik’s picture
of the Largest Babad Alas Wanamarta Wayang Story.
History
of Batik Trusmi
Batik
began to exist in Trusmi in the 14th
century, an area where at that time a lot of plants were growing, then the
residents cut down the plants but immediately the plants grew back. So
that the land is called Trusmi Village which comes from the word that continues
to bloom.
Originally,
Sultan Palace (Keraton) ordered people to make batik like his own without
bringing batik samples, he was only allowed to see the motif. When it was due,
Trusmi then came back with the batik he had made. Then the Trusmi asked
the Sultan for the original batik, which he then wrapped the two batiks (the
original batik with the batik he made/duplicates).
The Trusmi people then asked the Sultan to choose the original
batik, but he could not tell the difference, but none of the duplicate batik
missed at all from the original batik. Therefore, the Sultan admitted
that the batik made by the Trusmi people was very neat.
Special Remarks
Batik’s Bed Linen Full of Meaning:
- Bat: Good fate
- Deer:
Wealth/cathedra
- South Pole Star:
Longevity, the God is described as an old man with a long beard and bald
head
- Birdie:
Happiness
- 8-pointed Star:
Prosperity and luck
- Kylin: Truth,
justice, peace, also considered to provide fertility
- Tiger: Protect
or repel reinforcements and look after children
- Hong Bird:
Tenderness, elegance, and pure heart (consort)
- Rooster and ant: Diligence
For further information:
Bentara Budaya Jakarta
Jl. Palmerah Selatan No. 17, Central Jakarta 10270
+6221-5483-008 ext. 7910-13
Social Media:
Website: www.bentarabudaya.com
Email : bbj@bentarabudaya.com
Instagram: bentarabudaya.jakarta
Facebook: Bentara Budaya Jakarta
Twitter: @BentaraBudaya
YouTube Channel : Bentara Budaya Jakarta Official
Reference:
Personal
photos and documentation
Personal
impression and experience
http://batik.or.id/arti-dan-makna-burung-hong/
http://www.jnjbatik.com/blog/motif-isen-sebagai-pelengkap-batik/
https://sanggarbatikkatura.com/classic/Sejarah%20Batik%20Trusmi.html
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