Batik is a
traditional cloth decoration technique. In 2009, UNESCO recognized Batik as an
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia. In recent times, batik
has started declining towards being a lost art, much of which the collective
responsibility of the Indonesian nation.
Batik
features a variety of visual ornaments containing life sayings and messages
embedded by its designers for their audiences. However, many of such cyphers
are yet to be decoded. Decrypting the embedded messages left by elders in the
visual ornaments of classic batik motifs is a worthwhile endeavour and
manifestation of the Indonesian nation’s effort to preserve batik. Among batik
visual ornaments laden with philosophical meanings is the Pelo Ati batik of the
Rifa’iyahs. The visual ornament incorporates the teachings of Sheikh Ahmad
Rifa’i's brand of tasawwuf, wherein man may be considered as virtuous or unvirtuous
by his heart.
This study
is limited to the Pelo Ati visual ornament of the Rifa’iyah batik. Future
studies shall focus on the visual ornaments of other batik cloths. The limit is
imposed in order to preserve and socialise the meanings of the visual ornaments
of batiks found in the Indonesian Archipelago. In addition, a number of
Indonesians are still ill-informed of the implicit messages on batik cloths. This
study employs ethnographic methods accompanied by a literature review on the
history of the Rifa’iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang, its batik, and its culture.
This study also uses in-depth interviews with batik experts, Rifa'iyah Batik
experts, and Rifa’iyah religious figures. For a period of time, residence is
taken within the Rifa'iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 27, 2017 |
Submission Date | October 27, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017Volume: 3 Issue: 9 |
Contact: ijasosjournal@hotmail.com
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