The humbled batik art is now being taught at colleges overseas.
BATIK may not be the most popular fabric choice due to its stereotypical latticework prints and tacky colour combinations (think brown and indigo or orange and blue).
However, the humble cloth is fast gaining popularity overseas with British folk flocking to colleges that offer batik making classes.
In Britain, examining and accreditation body City and Guilds of London Institute teaches The Creative Skills in Silk Painting course where students learn basic silk painting skills.
Interestingly, Malaysian-born Lee Creswell tutors the course at Cottenham Village College in Cambridge.
“Since the 1980s, batik has garnered a fair bit of popularity in Britain. It is fast becoming a preferred material choice as it offers unlimited possibilities of freedom in terms of prints and patterns,” said Creswell, who was one of the speakers at the Kuala Lumpur International Batik Convention & Exhibition 2009 (KLIB), held last month at the KL Convention Centre.
The event was organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia.
Creswell explained that students are required to complete 120 hours comprising course work and practical classes.
The course, offered for a duration of 12 to 18 months, concentrates on colour theory, dyestuff, fabric embellishment and batik implementation.
“Students have a lot of homework and if their work isn’t up to standard, they would have to repeat it. First, they learn techniques of traditional batik before doing their interpretation of modern or abstract batik.
“Many have gone into doing abstract and two-dimensional pieces such as organza over silk and embroidery pieces,” said Creswell, who also specialises in the traditional art of shibori (tie-dyeing). Creswell is a Peranakan from Malacca who has been living in England since 1962. The talented batik artist and silk painter learnt the art of batik at a young age and currently gives lectures on batik in Britain and the United States.
Some of her accolades include having her creations exhibited at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington and co-producing a DVD titled Useable And Wearable Batiks with Anne Dye.
The award-winning artist is a nature and wildlife lover who enjoys holidaying in off the beaten track places. It’s no surprise her works include seascape and marine life – a favourite subject being the movement of water.
Creswell observed that Western batik artists often have unique interpretation of this medium, for instance, they prefer to mix and match textures in the bonding and fusion of various fabrics.
“I had a group of quilt enthusiasts who stitched small pieces of batik material to make a jacket. There have been other students who have created intricate batik cardigans embedded with beads and sea shells. Some students have framed their batik creations while others have turned it into quilts and decorative pieces. Recycling old sarung is also a current trend now.”
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan designer Sonali Dharmawardena is on a mission to create awareness on batik’s versatility in the fashion scene.
The fashion maestro is convinced that batik can be used as a medium to fashion themes, particularly sarees.
“Batik is very much a part of Sri Lanka’s art and craft circle. Today, we see a variation of the same technique with a modern twist. The versatility of the batik technique and the ability to use waxing and dyeing make the batik medium a perfect choice to complement Sri Lanka’s fashion industry,” said Dharmawardena, who was also a guest speaker at the convention.
The consultant designer for a lingerie manufacturer in Colombo decided to dabble in batik sarees as she was bored of duplicated and traditional designs offered in stores. She recently launched her brand, Acushla, which offers one-of-a kind batik silk sarees and women’s apparel.
“The saree is one of the most graceful and sensual items of clothing for women. It is a six-yard (5.4m) piece of cloth that wraps your body and embraces the contours of your form. I used to wear three curtains patched together or use different yards of fabric to create my own six yards and not stick to standard sarees off the shelf because I wanted something different,” said Dharmawardena.
“Batik has given me the medium I longed for. I ensure that each piece is hand-drawn, a separate inspiration. I may have a collection of floral motifs when nature inspires me, for instance, but each saree will take a different look and colour,” said Dharmawardena.
Geometric patterns, inspired by nature, are often used in her designs. “I live in a country rich in nature. Some of Sri Lanka’s surroundings have impacted the geometrical designs used. Even the colours used reflect positive or negative emotions,” said Dharmawardena.
--http://thestar.com.my
