The Art of Batik In Bali
Though Batik is done around the world, it has evolved to a very high level in Java and Bali.
First done by court ladies for palace attire and certain motifs at one time reserved only for royalty, Batik is now widely produced and these "forbidden" motifs are now available to the public, even to Bali villas resort guests.
The Balinese Batik, a cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique, is said to be influenced by neighboring Javanese Batik. It is relatively recent compared to the Java Island, having been stimulated by the tourism industry and the consequent rising demand for souvenirs from tourists and luxury villas in bali guests since the early 20th century.
Originally stimulated by Javanese motifs, dominated by wayang and other mythological characters, the Balinese Batik is said to express the artistic excellence of the Balinese people, with their beautiful designs, which is inspired by religious mythologies to everyday encounters, spread throughout the world.
In the same way as Bali’s paintings, contemporary batik have also experienced artistic development that parallels that of paintings. Modern batik artists are observed to express themselves through various subjects, from objects of nature such as birds or fish to daily activities such as cremation procession or tourist attractions as well as religious and mythological stories, accompanied by modern interpretation.
In addition to the traditional wax-resist dye technique and industrial techniques such as the stamp (cap) and painting, Balinese batik sometimes utilizes two amazing techniques that the Balinese have perfected, the Ikat (tie dye) and Double Ikat.
With the word of Ikat meaning tie or bind, the pattern required on the cloth is knotted and bound onto the warp yarn and the thread is dyed before weaving. In Ika technique, a piece of Ikat cloth is woven in such a way that the ink is 'tied', which is what 'ikat' literally translates to, in one of the two threads.
There are three basic forms of Ikat. The Single Ikat; where you can see either warp or weft yarns are tied and dyed; the Combined Ikat, where warp and weft Ikat may co-exist in different parts of the fabric; and Double Ikat, where both warp and weft threads are tied with such precision that when woven, threads from both axis mesh exactly at certain points to form a complete motif or pattern. In a Double Ikat, the Ikat technique is recursively repeated; with both threads containing ink. The ink will bleed to its neighboring area, resulting into a piece of cloth with distinctive, subtle pattern.
The Ikat cloth is said to be made in many scattered regions of the Indonesian Archipelago such as from Batak & Lampung (Sumatra), Dayaks (Kalimantan), Tenganan (Bali), Denggala & Rongkong (Sulawesi). The outstanding work is also said to come from Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok, Sumba, Timor, Flores, Sawu, Rote & Alor) where its ancient art form thrives most strongly.
Ikat garments are said to be still in daily use on those areas with an incredible diversity of colors and patterns.
Balinese batik is characterized by bright and vibrant colors, which the tie dye (Ikat) technique blends into a smooth gradation of color with many shades.
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About the Author
| Kiara Brownell Kiara Brownell is a traveler who loves to see beautiful places around the world. She already visited some of the top destinations in the world including the beautiful place of Bali. She recommends to visit villas in seminyak to find the best private villas in bali that suit your budget. Visit http://www.balivillaholidays.com |
