Ganesha Batik Workshop: Spread the Culture by Training Others

Oleh UKM Student English Forum

Editor -

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - The various colors and pattern of batik were displayed on basketball field west Campus Center ITB. It comes from Ganesha Membatik event which was  conducted by ITB Javanese Dance and Karawitan Association (PSTK) ITB. The participants came from different ages, from elementary school to elderly people, joined this educative event. Despite the batik workshop, the event also consisted of culinary stand and batik exhibition.
Batik workshop involved ITB student as trainers in order to reach the participants personally. Susilawati (Physics Engineering 2008) whose became a trainer said that she is able to get two workshops in one way. The difference is that on the first workshop, she became the participant and get the lesson material on steps creating the batik and also the tips to overcome the potential problem that might be faced by the participants.  Then, on the second workshop, it is Susilawati's turn to transfer the lesson to the group that she assisted.

Batik creation process consists of four steps, which are : mola, mbatik nyolet, and nglorod. Mola is a early sketch in mori textile which is used to be the media. Mbatik is to bold the pattern that already created with the use of wax and canting tulis. Nyolet is giving the color to batik by giving the color mixture to the textile.

The last step of batik creation is ngolor, which is removing the wax that is attached to the mori textile so that it created a colorless pattern. The interesting part is the participant can take home the canting that they already used, so if one day they want to create the batik, the participants already own their own canting.

Annisa Paramitha, participant from Taruna Bakti Junior High School, said that her school teacher obliged the students to participate in the event. "The event is interesting and great, it is better to be conducted every year," she said. Other participant, Dyani Wylaputri (Science and Technology Pharmacy 2009) said that the event create a very good impression.

"Doing batik is quite hard and sometimes the result is not like what we're expecting before. Those batiks should be appreciated because the process is difficult. The most difficult part is using the canting," she said. Although it was a hot sunny day, the participant are highly enthusiasts to follow the whole process of the event.

"The registered participants are 856 people come from Bandung, Bogor, and other cities. Exchange students from Japan and German are also participated," said Lukman Hardy (Mathematics 2009) as the head committee of Ganesha Batik Workshop. "We hope that this event will inspire student as a future country leaders to give impact to Indonesia cultural preservation."

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