Institut Teknologi Bandung

This workshop had successfully invited 300 participants which were separated in 30 groups. Every group were coached by one trainer from PSTK. In the group, the participants were then allowed to make their batik based on their own creativity on the shirt or cloth provided.

The process of making batik in this workshop consisted of four step: mola, nyanting, nyolet, and nglorot. Mola was the design-making step based on the creativity of the participant. Nyanting was the process of smearing wax to the design/sketch to limit the coloring area with canting. The next step was the coloring process conceded by the application of water glass to avoid the color to fade.

The last step was nglorot, i.e. removing the wax In the textile through soaking it in the hot water. After that the batiks were dried by the sun and allowed to be brought home by the participants as souvenirs. The cantings they used as coloring 'pen' are also allowed to be brought home, so participants can use it whenever they want to make another batik.

The Batik Philosophy

"After knowing the making process of batik, I hope people can love and appreciate batik more, which is already regarded as our cultural legacy," said Arief Budi Sanjaya (Mechanical Engineering 2010), the project officer of the event.

Arief believed that there was a great philosophy in the making process of batik itself. "The hardest process of making batik is coloring with canting, it needs a lot of patience and perseverance to make a batik as one wishes," told him.

This workshop wasn't only participated by people inside ITB, but also the participants from outside ITB. There were alumni, neighboring community, even some foreigner who enjoyed this interesting event.

"I, as a batik-lover, have just known that the making process is not easy," said Bambang Sadarta (ITB alumnus of 1974) who participated in the event with his family. "I hope this event is held regularly, so people will be able to know more about batik," he added.