Tradition of Cirebon Batik

Tradition of Cirebon Batik

New in the last ten to fifteen years to get his popularity back Cirebon batik. Society in general is more familiar with batik, especially Yogyakarta, Central Java, Pekalongan, Solo and either form of batik, and batik prints. but it is Cirebon batik arts and crafts that have old and strong and deserve investigation.

Batik-making process in West Java it is a tradition as old as in Central Java. No doubt, water-resistant dyeing technique known in the West Java if it learned a few remaining relics of this batik. Ways of making rice porridge with placing adhesive on the rough hand-woven cloth, known in areas including in the area of Old Banten and Sunda. This cloth dyed in indigo blue or red turkey (red iron rust), while the surface of the adhesive was still plastered white pulp. Other than rice porridge, may also use substances other half as a slurry liquid beans and porridge made from leaves. the work that has been prepared, mostly used for ceremonial purposes, as temple decorations, banners and banners. Complexion, especially the dots and circles and geometric linear manifold, which all reflect the views of Indonesian ancient cultural cosmology.

Baray northeastern coast of Java, known as Cirebon and Indramayu, lies in the way of commerce between the kingdoms of the Hindu-Muslim-in Java and then east and west of the kingdoms of the Archipelago and Asia Minor, India and China. Besides trade, there is always a movement of people, so that the resettlement of people from outside the area of the archipelago is mixed with the natives have taken place in these coastal areas. There is no written historical sources about the growth of this new activity, which may also include the advancement of art painted batik cloth by using water-resistant. Once Upon A Time, originating from batik batik Lasem Indramayu. Until now, it is unclear which city is meant, because there are two of the city known by that name, both near major ports. The one near the Tuban and the other near the old port Sedayu. Wherever situated, Lasem certainly an important settlement at about the end of the Majapahit era and during the advent of Islam, around mid-century to -15. The population is Chinese, judging from the style used in batik painting and is generally called LASEMAN. Consisting of Chinese motifs, such as rolls of inscriptions, peony rose, phoenix-Hok, fan, lion and other symbolic motifs of ancient Chinese culture of harmony with the motive of a purely aesthetic, such as free-floating cloud. The examples drawn directly from China that embroidered cloth and ceramic. This style extends along the northern coast of Java, especially to the west and later became known as coastal STYLE.

Increase the advance of Islam and the development of coastal kingdoms of Islam also led to a new artistic spark. Religious center and a new art, appears in the vicinity of Demak and especially in Mantingan. the artists took over the symbols are distributed by various media. PINTADO one is colorful, as the Portuguese called the painted materials, which come from Pulicat and Gujarat in India, it may be a batik. Brocade fabrics, rugs and breakables from the Middle East may also be sources of inspiration. Immediately, the forms such as the medallion, wajit, arabesk (blossom-development) and landscape painting style drape over the natives and became STYLE Mantingan. A new art again, that calligraphy, stepped forward and used to avoid the provisions of the Koran, that better not be drawn creatures, who made shades desembunyikan animals in Arabic letters.

In the next period, historical events have influenced the newness in the area of Cirebon. The existence of the Garuda symbol on batik-batik Indramayu is a sign that people have inhabited this area of Mataram had become part of the kingdoms of the century, -17.

Not just a new design pattern and find a place in the new settlements are established on the north coast. How to paint the old, such as using bamboo brushes for painting on fabric, turn into the use of canting, a type of pen bercorong of copper on the ends and the handle of bamboo or wood.

Funnel-tipped pen narrow or wide, and thus allows the artist to create lines that are more rugged, and more subtle. batik art for more advanced fabric with cotton imports from India and silk from China.

Plain cotton imports can be a big push forward rapid nights batik industry, mainly in the form of pennants, banners, wall paintings and similar religious nature to decorate temples and patrician houses that appear in the Cirebon area in the second century -15 . When the kingdom of Cirebon was victorious, and the ports of Muara Jati rich and Indramayu increasingly enrich the community, the lifestyle of the rich causing the increasing number of imported good plain cloth, or a patterned from abroad in order to be used for luxury goods house decoration.

Original expression is influenced by both indigenous and foreign cultural elements, Cirebon and Indramayu has developed some characteristics evident in their culture, batik painting, where the materials become famous. These characteristics like talking as a separate language. bold batik from this area and attract attention, both in style, as well as in the use of color. They're more of an art painting, rather than canting works fine arts known in central java.

If you want to understand the art of batik from Cirebon, there are some things that should be borne in mind, among other elements of style and motifs, and the use of batik techniques that have been completed.

Types and varieties of Cirebon batik style very interesting and really different from batik-batik Surakarta and Yogyakarta as well as the work of another part of the north coast of Java.

When compared with the palace batik from Central Java, for example, then the pond Cirebon batik brave, do not use symmetric pattern in all the material, but rather as a pattern that describes something real on the material plain. The style was more close and desultory than the complexion of Central Java. This may be due to the use of some of the original hue, especially that paints a picture that is hidden in the design of symbols, shapes of animals, plants that have a meaning terntentu in traditional stories, landscapes, geometric patterns and Arabic calligraphy. Above described technique of batik material, the material used as a painting of a religious nature (wafak). Used to decorate the house and to refuse the evil and protect the house and its occupants. While banners and pennants are part of a religious procession in the days of less memorable.

Until now famous because of its pattern of Cirebon and the special feature not found in the vocabulary of batik batik-producing areas elsewhere in Indonesia. There are patterns that describe a group of symbols. The most popular are the white tigers because of the influence of Islam took the form of the Lion of Persia. This symbol is usually laced with a double-edged sword, named Dzu'l-Fiqar the story given by the Prophet to wait dear Ali. Another popular pattern is PEKSI DRAGONS Liman, mythical beast consisting of elements of elements of various cultures. Peksi royal emblem is a phoenix, a dragon is a snake, that gives life, while liman is the elephant that illustrate the strength and ingenuity, such as Ganesha in Hindu mythology. But the combination of all these animals are SINGaBARONG, a winged lion from Persia, the oldest type Bouraq, bird rock from a thousand and one nights stories, mythical bird from the Islamic folklore. indeed should this motif, which is the union of the great ideas of Islamic culture, Hindu and Parsi became a symbol of peaceful cooperation, tangible expression of different cultures living together in harmony like in a society that mingle on the north coast of Java.

Other designs are chopsticks urang, shrimp literally fix. This is also a military term for a strategy of war, where enemy forces surrounded and attacked from the side in the middle. Pattern shows the two arms of a female type creatures such as shrimp which was launched arrows.

This pattern may have a relationship with Ki Urang figure, a hero of Indramayu against Mataram. This pattern is sometimes called urang ayu, a beautiful woman, which focuses on the words 'urang' which could mean shrimp, and people. Urang essentially depicts the makara, a figure in Hindu iconography is half human and half fish. thus associated with the god Vishnu, and explores the element of water.

Other popular patterns are there that at first had a symbolic meaning is still widely used. to name a few shades; chicken base used to soften the base of the mountain chicken called teak, which broadcast the arrival of Islam, Islam spread from the first settlement on the hill-mountain-amparan teak.

Which is also highly preferred style Arum Park, or Taman Arum Suniaragi, fragrant gardens, the abode of the Gods. In Cirebon desebut quiet yard, which has always been a part of the palace area. Was used as decoration diwaktu religious ceremony and an opportunity, this pattern is associated with Cirebon and repeated again in different variations.

Through these patterns, the relationship between carving, painting on wood and glass, as well as the textile can be traced. batik technique as a means of expression has clearly become part of art-recognized painting. in the Middle East, India and China painting is a field of men, including placing material on the filter tonight. hl is a good reflection of the population that are centuries old and the origins of religious rituals and artistic fields. Previously in the area of Cirebon, art painting, including painting on textiles, also for men only. This tradition can be seen all the more so in the settlement of such craft expert in Trusmi and continued until far into the century, -20. Presumably, the role of women until the 19 nd century, small, and their participation in this field is a later development. This is caused by changes in economic patterns in the area of Cirebon, when private lands during the colonial Dutch government needs more power to men.

Gradually the batik industry, most of which is still a work in woman's foreclosed home environment. Previously, their obligation is solely addressed to the working details, such as filling the background. But with the migration of men to meet the needs of large gardens landlords, she also started working on placing candles textiles. Male artists continue to take part in the process of batik making, but their numbers were decreasing and for ten years Puspa only a few remain. Now women who have a more active role until the beginning of batik designing and selling her work.

Which was only used for ceremonial and religious events, batik as known today, has been transformed into everyday fashion. when batik became everyday clothes are not known with certainty. But we can assume that the use of batik as a textile material for pakain or for domestic purposes is a modern phenomenon. according to sources of reliable, from the palace, the palace of Cirebon, where the servants in the palace has been thought of himself as a keeper and historian batik processing, the use of batik as a means of closing the body or clothing in daily life at an early day a new beginning approximately Two hundred years ago. And the use of batik today can not be traced earlier than the beginning of this century. Imports of textile materials from Europe at the nd of fine 18th century is the beginning of batik production for daily use in large numbers. Before that, according to both oral and written reports, which used to pakain tenunlah daily. Weaving a rougher for farmers and fishermen, like the kind of vests, warig, used by farmers and fishermen, and woven from the fiber of trees gebang (Corypha umbellifara L.). So did the girls in the area in ancient times Indramayu baju kurung wearing some kind of short of coarse fabric, made of cotton, indigo-colored and named Cele. the fabrics worn by the softer middle class as well as relatives of the palace. silk weaving techniques are also introduced, and silk fabrics have become one of the industry that much-loved by Cirebon nobility, or exported to other countries. But from other parts of Indonesia, and also from mainland Southeast Asia and other countries.