BATIK DAYS

Batik Selected for UNESCO Cultural Heritage List

http://indonesia-oslo.no/batik-selected-for-unesco-cultural-heritage-list/

Indonesians have been asked to wear batik on Oct. 2, following UNESCO’s decision to add the traditional dyeing technique to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The listing, which will give the age-old batik tradition some degree of protection under the UNESCO charter, will be made official at an event in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, between Sep. 28 and
Oct. 2.

To acknowledge the listing, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked all Indonesians to wear batik.

“Batik is regarded as a cultural icon with its own uniqueness. It contains symbols and a deep philosophy of the human life cycle — and it was submitted by Indonesia as a non-material element of cultural heritage,” Coordinating Minister for the People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie told a press conference at Bogor Presidential Palace on Monday.

“We’ve been told that batik has been recognized as an element of global cultural heritage produced by Indonesians. The President has called on all Indonesians to wear batik on Oct. 2, to celebrate batik.”

Batik is a wax-resistant dyeing technique used on textiles. Due to modern advances in the textile industry, the term is also used for fabrics incorporating traditional batik patterns that are not necessarily produced using traditional batik techniques.

In the past, Indonesians, mostly adults, wear batik only at formal events. Nowadays it has become increasingly popular even among the younger generation with batik factories starting to manufacture more wearer-friendly and fashionable batik outfits.

Many office workers now wear batik on a daily basis, while local designers compete to produce more attractive designs.

While batik originated in Javanese courts, several other regions in Indonesia also have their own styles of batik. The fabric is also widely worn in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Aburizal explained that the jury team from UNESCO, before declaring batik an element of global cultural heritage, had inquired about the origins of Indonesian batik, on the government’s protection of it and to what extent batik was a part of local community life.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said batik was therefore Indonesia’s third tradition to secure UNESCO’s recognition as an element of non-material global cultural heritage.

In 2003, the UN body named wayang (Indonesia’s traditional shadow puppets) and keris (traditional wavy blades) as elements of non-material cultural heritage.

“And now we are submitting angklung (traditional musical instrument made of bamboo) as an element of global cultural heritage from Indonesia,” Jero said.

“We will keep fighting for our heritage one tradition at a time.”

Source : The Jakarta Post.

Mengorek Kembali Sejarah Hari Batik Nasional

http://sejarah.kompasiana.com/2013/10/04/mengorek-kembali-sejarah-hari-batik-nasional-595704.html

Tanggal 2 Oktober memang sudah lewat. Untuk sebagian orang, rasanya asing jika mendengar pertanyaan, “ada hari penting apa di tanggal 2 Oktober?”.

Itulah yang Dewi Addnin alami ketika diajukan pertanyaan tersebut. Mahasiswa program studi Hubungan Masyarakat Universitas Diponegoro itu sempat mengerutkan dahi dan bertanya balik pada dirinya. “Ada hari apa ya? Emang ada apa sih?” tanyanya penasaran.

Cerita di atas bisa jadi cerminan bahwasanya belum banyak dari kita yang mengetahui tentang hari penting apa yang terdapat di setiap tanggal 2 Oktober. Memang tidak semua orang seperti itu dan bukan berarti langsung menghakimi, namun memang begitulah faktanya. Selalu ada banyak alasan mengapa kita sempat tak tahu ada hari penting di 2 Oktober.

Dalam kesempatan ini, kita akan menceritakan kembali mengapa tanggal 2 Oktober merupakan hari penting bagi bangsa Indonesia. Tepat 4 tahun yang lalu, Badan PBB untuk masalah kebudayaan, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) menetapkan Batik sebagai Warisan Kemanusiaan untuk Budaya Lisan dan Nonbendawi (Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity).

Hal tersebutlah yang menjadi alasan mengapa tanggal 2 Oktober diperingati sebagai Hari Batik Nasional. Lebih dari itu, bahkan dalam situs Wikipedia, tanggal tersebut bukan hanya diperingati sebagai Hari Batik Nasional, UNESCO menetapkan sebagai Hari Batik Sedunia.

Upaya Penghapusan Klaim Malaysia

Proses yang ditempuh oleh pemerintah Indonesia terbilang cukup lama untuk mendapat pengakuan refresentatif dari UNESCO soal Batik. Diawali dengan proses nominasi Batik Indonesia ke UNESCO, 3 September 2008, pemerintah Indonesia harus menunggu lebih dari 4 bulan.  UNESCO akhirnya menerima secara resmi pada 9 Januari 2009 untuk diproses lebih lanjut.

Sebelumnya, prahara terjadi berkaitan tentang batik. Lagi, Malaysia menjadi momok menjengkelkan bagi Indonesia dalam hal pengklaiman kebudayaan. Namun, pemerintah Indonesia langsung bereaksi atas kejadian itu. Mereka segera mendaftarkan Batik ke dalam jajaran daftar representatif budaya tak benda warisan manusia ke UNESCO.

Berapa bulan setelah diterima UNESCO, tahap selanjutnya yang ditempuh dalam proses pengakuan Batik ialah pengujian tertutup di Paris. UNESCO menggelar pengujian selama 4 hari, 11-14 Mei 2009.

Hal yang ditunggu-tunggu pun tiba. Rabu, 2 Oktober 2009, jadi puncak penantian Indonesia. UNESCO mengukuhkan batik Indonesia dalam daftar representative Warisan Kemanusiaan untuk Budaya Lisan dan Nonbendawi di Abu Dhabi, Uni Emirat Arab.

Mohammad Nuh, Menteri Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata saati itu, tak henti-hentinya untuk mengajak rakyat Indonesia untuk bersyukur setelah mendapat informasi tentang Batik telah diakui UNESCO.

“Kita harus bersyukur, proses ini bukan proses yang pendek untuk mendapatkan pengesahan dari UNESCO,” ujarnya.

Nuh juga mengutarakan tentang pendeklarasian yang diumumkan oleh Presiden Republik Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, sebagai upaya untuk menghapus pengklaiman yang digencarkan sebelumnya oleh negara tetangga, Malaysia.

Dalam situs resmi UNESCO ditulis bahwa Batik Indonesia memiliki banyak simbol yang bertautan erat dengan status sosial, kebudayaan lokal, alam dan sejarah itu sendiri. Batik adalah identitas bangsa Indonesia. Batik dipercaya menjadi bagian penting seseorang di Indonesia sejak lahir hingga meninggal.

Batik merupakan warisan nenek moyang Indonesia, khususnya Jawa, yang sampai saat ini masih ada. Untuk informasi, Batik pertama kali diperkenalkan kepada dunia oleh mantan Presiden RI, Soeharto, yang kala itu memakai batik di Konferensi PBB bersama negara-negara lain. Batik juga pernah digunakan oleh tokoh-tokoh dunia, seperti Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Zinedine Zidane dan Bill Gates ketika bertandang ke Indonsia.

Bagaimana? Sudah tahu bukan, ada hari apa di tanggal 2 Oktober? Semoga kita bukan hanya ingat dengan tanggalnya saja, tapi juga ikut melestarikan batik dan kebudayaan Indonesia lainnya sebagai salah satu bentuk kecintaan pada Ibu Pertiwi.

Nelson Mandela and His Love of Batik

Zoom Out Zoom In Normal

http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2013/07/20/240498054/Nelson-Mandela-and-His-Love-of-Batik

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Thursday, July 18, Nelson Mandela celebrated his 95th birthday. The anti-apartheid hero’s health has been steadily improving recently, bringing hope to the world for signs of a miraculous recovery. Throughout the years, Mandela has often been seen making an international fashion statement by wearing Indonesian batik and showing it off to the world. 

In 1997, the former South African president stunned the late former Indonesian President Suharto when he visited Indonesia. Suharto welcomed Mandela wearing a formal suit while Mandela, surprisingly, greeted the former president wearing a batik shirt. 

Mandela’s love of batik was also shown when he attended official events, such as the launch of the group of world-renowned senior figures formed to tackle global issues named, ‘The Elders’ in June 2007. He proudly wore an Indonesian batik shirt during the event, which was also held on his 87th birthday. The traditional colors of the batik enhanced the Mvezo born man’s charismatic and humble figure. 

Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa, Sugeng Rahardjo, said Mandela was first introduced to Indonesian batik in 1990, a few months after he was released from Roben Island jail. As the President of the African National Congress, he took his first trip to Asia. 

When Mandela, also popularly known as Mandiba, first received his batik shirt as a souvenir, he immediately fell in love. Since then, each time he visited Indonesia, Mandiba always wore batik. 

Most of the batik shirts worn by Mandiba were made by the late fashion designer, Iwan Tirta. This Indonesian batik maestro is well known for his large cleaver patterns in his batik designs. 

"Mandela is a strong prominent figure who suits my batik collection. He does not only look appealing, but his fighter’s charisma is enhanced even more when he wears batik," said Iwan Tirta in the late 90s when he gave one of his shirts to Nelson Mandela.  HADRIANI P/ Berbagai Sumber

9 World Artists Who Proudly Wear Indonesian Batik

http://newfemalefashion.com/9-world-artists-who-proudly-wear-indonesian-batik.html

1. Jessica Alba

Women’s full name Jessica Marie Alba looks proudly wearing a patterned dress Batik Yogyakarta. Jessica looks very confident even while doing a photo shoot in front of the reporters who were waiting for him. Name Jessica started soared when he lined up as the lead actress in the television series Dark Angel (2000-2002). She then also appeared in various films, including Honey (2003), Sin City (2005), Fantastic Four (2005), Into the Blue (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Good Luck Chuck in 2007.

2. Rachel Bilson

In this figure , Rachel Bilson was wearing a mini dress with an interesting motif and is perfect when paired with a black jacket . Women ‘s full name is Rachel Sarah Bilson is an American actress who made ​​her television debut in 2003 . He became known through his first drama series The OC Bilson and made ​​her film debut in the movie The Last Kiss in 2006 and in 2008 starred in the action / science fiction Jumper.

3. Reese Witherspoon

looks wearing a mini dress with a purple batik motif that comes with a blue jacket. Women’s full name is Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is known as an actress and producer. Reese debuted? as the female lead in the movie The Man in the Moon in 1991, then she made her acting debut on television in the cable movie Wildflower.

4. Julia Roberts

In the movie Eat Pray Love, which was released in 2010, Julia Roberts was wearing blue Batik dress. Women’s full name was Julia Fiona Roberts also looks pretty when wearing it. American actress who was born on October 28, 1967 it had received a Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Steel Magnolias (1989) and Pretty Woman, she won the Academy Award as Best Actress for her performance in Erin Brockovich (2000)

5. Anna Popplewell

In this picture, Anna Katherine Popplewell appeared confident while wearing the brown batik. Women born December 16, 1988 This is the actress of film, television and theater from the UK. She is known for her role as Susan Pevensie in the film series The Chronicles of Narnia since 2005.

6. Heidi Klum

Just as Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, a beautiful model Heidi Klum looked elegant when wearing the dark-colored Batik dress. The German-born American model has plenty to do, including as a television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional actress also. His name became known internationally when she appeared in the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 1997, Heidi managed to become the first German model who became part of the Victoria’s Secret Angel.

7. Drew Barrymore

Women’s full name Drew Blyth Barrymore is known as an actress, director, producer, and American models. In this picture, Drew looks carrying a sling bag patterned Batik. Appeared in a T-shirt and army pants, a woman born February 22, 1975 was seen carrying a bag ethnic pride everywhere.

8. Dacota Fanning

Women’s full name is Hannah Dakota Fanning looked elegant in a white blouse and mini skirt patterned Batik. Dakota was born on February 23, 1994 known for her role in the movie I Am Sam in 2001. Her performance earned her nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award at the age of eight years old in 2002. That makes it the youngest nominee in the history of the award. As a child actress, she continued her career by appearing in the film Man on Fire (2004), War of the Worlds (2005) and Charlotte’s (2006).

9. Nicole Richie

Women’s full name is Nicole Camille Richie look fashionable with a touch of green batik scarf around his neck. American actress born 21 September 1981 is widely known as a fashion designer, author, actress and socialite in America. Richie name began skyrocketing after he starred in the Fox television series, The Simple Life, alongside his childhood best friend Paris Hilton, which lasted for five seasons.