Batik is a manual wax-resistant dyeing technique most
commonly used on material. The traditional Javanese batik technique was
centred, particularly in the regions of Yogyakata and Surakata, on the Javanese
conceptualization of the universe. The three most pronounced colours are
indigo, dark brown and white as a representation of the three major Hindu gods
due to the availability of the colours in natural dyes. Certain lines and
patterns, such as extensive waves or wider stripes, are used to represent
nobility and were easy to identify in ceremonies and the like. Other areas of
Indonesia also employ the art of batik in everyday life, meaning that
consequently UNESCO designated Indonesian Batik a Masterpiece of Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
We did the batik printing using hot wax and tjanting tools. A tjanting tool enables the artist to control the pattern laid down by the hot wax with a great deal of precision.
This was my first attempt at actual Batik using the tjanting tool. I found it difficult to control when the tool dripped, as you can see by the splashes around the lines. There was no real intention behind the design, other than to experiment with an unfamiliar technique.
I drew this design using the blunt end of a wax crayon, meaning that the illustration was, at times, childlike and inaccurate. I was inspired by traditional Javanese batik such as the following:
The wax in this illustration was thinner in an attempt to keep control over the wax. It resulted in a lack of clarity once painted over. I also feel that I should have used a more contrasting colour, as I chose a pink crayon then used colours close to it in the paint.
I like the batik technique, however in retrospect it was not a reliable
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