ORIENTAL PRINTING COURSES – BATIK 

17 April-16 May

ORIENTAL PRINTING COURSES – BATIK

Coordinator: Leonor Veiga

Duration: 14 hours (two theory hours and twelve practical hours)

Dates: 17 April (theoretical session) 18 and 25 April and 9 and 16 May (practical sessions)

Educational Service Room, Floor -1

Target audience: Adults

No. of participants: Min. 8

Price: € 140.00 (includes material specifically for this technique)

Timetable: Theoretical sessions, Friday, 18.00-20.00. Practical sessions, Saturday,14.00-17.00

PRIOR BOOKING REQUIRED

Within the scope of the Indonesian arts, textiles are an impressive benchmark of quality. Batik, whose origins remain disputed, is recognised worldwide as an Indonesian technique given the level of sophistication that the art reached on the island of Java.

The batik of Java tells of political precedents, the social and historical framework as well as the artistic and religious history of Java. This is an art form that congregates a multiplicity of discourses, wisdom and traditions. Along with their erudite context, batik pieces are also artistic objects of the finest beauty.

Formerly an art in the courts of the Sultanates of Yogya and Solo and the coastal cities of Java, it fell into disuse. Times, however, change and so do intentions: a new application for the technique emerged that enabled its survival, artistic batik.

1st SESSION – INTRODUCTION TO BATIK

In this theoretical session, various images are shown along with a brief explanation as to the differences existing across Java batik, whether in its coastal forms (pesisiran) or in its royal forms (pedalaman). There is study of the colours, the motifs and their meanings so as to provide a theoretical overview of the technique. Throughout a guided tour, each participant chooses and notes down features of exhibits on display in the Museu do Oriente. These references are then transposed into batik.

2nd SESSION – EXPERIMENTING BATIK

Batik: experimenting with canting, a type of paring that enables designs to be traced in heated and melted wax. Following on, the experiment is then dyed. Finally, the wax is removed.

There then begins the final project carried out over various days.

3 – 5th SESSIONS – PRODUCING A BATIK INSPIRED ON THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION

Continuation of batik production. Each case is the focus of individual explanation: there are a range of possibilities so that each case requires due explanation to the others. The handling of the paintbrush, canting and the correction of errors are among the techniques acquired by all participants.