A letter from Rebecca Young in Indonesia
January 28, 2010
Dear Friends in Christ,
In the past few months, there has been something of an international incident going on between the neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia regarding the origin of the fabric known as batik. The word batik is an Indonesian word for the process of writing on cloth with wax then dipping the cloth in dyes so that the fabric only absorbs the colors not covered in wax.
Ms. Novi Iskandar displays a sample batik using a Christian cross motif, Dec 4, 2009, Jakarta. Photo by Becca Young.
Recent tourist advertisements from Malaysia have pictured batik as if it was an authentic Malaysian product. This led to cries of complaint from Indonesians who believe that batik originated from Java, the island around which much of Indonesian life revolves. Thus there was much celebrating by Indonesians in September 2009 when the U.N.'s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization added batik to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list as a genuine and original product of Indonesia.
One of the benefits of the controversy was that Indonesians have gained a new appreciation of their national fabric. Every Friday is now "Batik Day" at most offices in Jakarta, including at Jakarta Theological Seminary. Everyone wears a batik shirt to reflect pride in their heritage.
Another benefit for our seminary was that we had a lesson on making batik back in December. A group of Muslim women from a volunteer agency entitled "Art for Charity" came to the seminary with a load of batik supplies. The leader of the group, Novi Iskandar, told of how her group travels around the Jakarta metropolitan area teaching people how to make batik, particularly poor women who need income generating projects. They also do a variety of art programs with abused children as a process toward healing and greater self-confidence.
Ms. Iskandar began her instructions with us by explaining the background of batik and the many different styles, colors and designs that originate from different parts of Indonesia. She also pointed out that religious motifs are often seen in batik. She held up an example she had brought of a Christian design that incorporates a cross.
Student Yonea Sabatiari practices her skills during the batik class, Dec 4, 2009, Jakarta. Photo by Becca Young.
Once we had heard Ms. Iskandar's presentation, we each received a piece of cloth to practice by making a pillow cover. We sat on mats on the floor in groups of three and four around the hot containers of wax. We dipped the special wax holders in the hot liquid then traced the designs that had already been made in pencil on each piece of cloth. Professors, staff and students sat around chatting and enjoying one another's company as we focused on the difficult task of getting the wax on the lines instead of all over ourselves and the newspaper spread around us.
After we finished the waxing, the group of women got busy with the dying, and we all waited in eager anticipation to see how our designs turned out. Once they had dipped the fabric in the wax, they dipped the fabric again in very hot clear water to melt away the wax. The entire process took several hours, including waiting for the fabric to dry.
Although I don't think I will give up my career as a theology professor to go into the field of batik, it was a lot of fun to learn about this amazing process and to appreciate the skill that it takes to do what thousands of batik artisans across Indonesia do every day as they practice their craft.
Ms. Novi Iskandar giving the cloth a first dip in yellow dye, Dec 4, 2009, Jakarta. Photo by Becca Young.
What a joy — there side by side, Christian and Muslim, working together on a handicraft that has become an important symbol of national identity for Indonesians. God bless the work of Novi Iskandar and her Art For Charity group as they seek to provide help to their needy neighbors by sharing the healing power of art.
In Christ's peace,
Becca
The 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 132
