Spring Break – Malaysia Batik 1
My
first introduction to batik production, many years ago, was in the Indonesian
archipelago. Trips to Ubud, Bali were
planned around visits to the textile shops of Rai Rupini. This lovely woman patiently answered my many
questions and graciously showed me countless examples from her inventory of
thousands of vintage Indonesian hand-made textiles. I guess Rai is responsible for my out-of-control textile
collection. From her I learned the value of the most humble textile and the
beauty of the most elaborate.
first introduction to batik production, many years ago, was in the Indonesian
archipelago. Trips to Ubud, Bali were
planned around visits to the textile shops of Rai Rupini. This lovely woman patiently answered my many
questions and graciously showed me countless examples from her inventory of
thousands of vintage Indonesian hand-made textiles. I guess Rai is responsible for my out-of-control textile
collection. From her I learned the value of the most humble textile and the
beauty of the most elaborate.
Rai Rupini
Homage to Balinese Women, The Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, 1994
Photograph by Beth Van Gelder
Although
I purchased many, many types of Indonesian textiles, my favorites were always
vintage batiks: their wonderful patterning, their natural dye colors, and the
soft hand of much loved, much worn and laundered fabric.
I purchased many, many types of Indonesian textiles, my favorites were always
vintage batiks: their wonderful patterning, their natural dye colors, and the
soft hand of much loved, much worn and laundered fabric.
It
is a fact that many textile enthusiasts ignore the textile traditions of
mainland Southeast Asia, which are closely related to those of the Indonesian
islands. Our visit to Malaysia this
spring reinforced my view that peoples of Asian cultures developed similar
textile traditions and variations could possibly be due to cultural and
religious differences. Because of the
close proximity of these countries it is often difficult to determine where
certain textiles originated and which textiles were a result of the high amount
of trade between these regions although all may share common beginnings. The east coast of the Malay Peninsula also
produced cotton as did Indonesia and India.
is a fact that many textile enthusiasts ignore the textile traditions of
mainland Southeast Asia, which are closely related to those of the Indonesian
islands. Our visit to Malaysia this
spring reinforced my view that peoples of Asian cultures developed similar
textile traditions and variations could possibly be due to cultural and
religious differences. Because of the
close proximity of these countries it is often difficult to determine where
certain textiles originated and which textiles were a result of the high amount
of trade between these regions although all may share common beginnings. The east coast of the Malay Peninsula also
produced cotton as did Indonesia and India.
 |
| Batik Design, Pepin Van Roojen, Shamhala, Boston, 1997 |
 |
| Textiles and the Tai Experience in Southeast Asia, Gittinger & Lefferts, The Textile Museum, Washington,1992 |
Batik fabrics and clothing are abundant in Malaysian markets. Instead of purchasing vintage, I bought manycontemporary fabrics and caftans of vintage batik design. The cost was enticing and the selection
amazing. While I would hesitate wearing
clothing made from my vintage fabric collection within miles of spaghetti sauce, blueberry pie or red wine I happily wear my modern reproductions.
Next
blog will discuss the technique of batikdesign.
blog will discuss the technique of batikdesign.
Leave a Reply