Batik Introduction
Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. It was said to be originated from Java. Traditional colours include indigo, dark brown and white. Patterns similar to Javanese batik are also found in several countries of West Africa, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda and Mali, and in Asia, such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma, which displays the influence of the Indonesian Batik internationally.
Although the word’s origin is Javanese, its etymology may be either from the Javanese amba’ (‘to write’) and titik (‘dot’ or ‘point’), or constructed from a hypothetical Proto-Austronesian root “beCík”, meaning ‘to tattoo’ from the use of a needle in the process. The word is first recorded in English in the Encyclopedia Britannica of 1880, in which it is spelt battik. It is attested in Indonesian Archipelago of the Dutch colonial period in the various forms batek and batik.
Batik has been both an art and craft for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there.
Contemporary batik, while owing much to the past, is markedly different from the more traditional and formal styles. For example, the artist may use etching, discharge dyeing, stencils, different tools for waxing and dyeing, wax recipes with different resist values and work with silk, cotton, wool, leather, paper or even wood and ceramics.
In Malaysian, Batik is famous on the east coast of Malaysia (Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang). Despite of influence of Indonesian batik, Malaysia batik design is actually distinguish from the Indonesian Batik.
Malaysian Batik does resemble the Indonesian Batik in the way of technique or raw material. It is recognizable by it’s distinguish pattern and vivid colours.
All Malaysian Batik is handmade from scratching, waxing by jhunting, and coloring using dye. The most popular motifs are leaves and flowers. However, the butterfly theme is a common exception. The Malaysian batik is also famous for its geometrical designs, such as spirals.
In Malaysia, the batik cultural have been adopted as an official wears while tourist attired themselves as a resort-wear.