Batik: Indramayu design
Dara Kipu
The neighbouring area of
Indramayu is a fishing
community and was an
important harbour on the
north coast of Java often
called at by foreign ships
as well as vessels plying
between the islands of the
Indonesian archipelago.
Batiking was done by by
the wives of fishermen
from the villages around
Indramayu. They batiked
when their husbands were
away at sea, in order to
supplement their incomes.
For this reason they did
not wish to make batik
that would take too much
Motifs of batik made in fishing villages are greatly
time to complete. They
influenced by the flora and the fauna of the surrounding
used a large canting on
are, for example Jarot Asem (Javanese Tamarind), Dara
Kipu or by the sea such as Gaggeng and Urang Ayu. These plain cloth, and had hardly
any filling on their batiks.
are all motifs of the coarse and cheaper batik made for
To fill the empty space,
common people.
they made cocohan (tiny
dots) with an ustensil
called the complongan
shaped like a comb with
fine needles used to
penetrate the cloth already
Gaggeng (left) . Jarot Asem (right)
covered with wax. After
deying, the dots take on
the color of the dye. In its
simplicity Dermayon batik
has its own special
attraction
Urang Ayu
Batik: Others design
To conclude, for the time being, these are two others examples of
colorful batik clothes.
Enjoy !!