Asean batik :“Ramayana”creativity in batik Art Integration of asean countries

Abstract

This research is made under two objectives. The first one is the study on Batik artworks of 10 countries in ASEAN community. The said countries are classified by their geographical borders, namely Mainland Southeast Asia or Indo-China located in the north and consisting of Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam, and oceanic Southeast Asia located in the south. This area consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Philippines. This study is based on 40 samples of Batik works which include Batik works brought from books, artists’ Batik works, Batik work pieces shown in any museums and on internet. The second one is to synthesize and produce the artworks by means of applying ideas, patterns and contents and then, analyzing and synthesizing its outcome by focusing on its content, format of pattern, tool and material, coloring technique and meaning of pattern to be applied for creating the set of Batik works, called Ramayana.

The results of the research were found as follows: 1.For the content, geometric designs were about tress (flowers and leaves), lifestyles, the integration of trees and geometry, the integration of animals and plants; however, the cultural design was found at the least one. 2. For the design transferring, the realistic, idealistic and abstract designs were found. 3. For the materials, cotton fabric and wax were the main materials used creatively in every Asian country, the Batik wax pen or Tjanting and wax Batik block were used as the least uses respectively. 4.For the Batik technique, dyeing was the first one and painting was the second one. 5.For the Batik color, the primary and the harmonious colors were used more than the contrastive colors. 6. The original Batik designs were meaningful, it influenced the wearer to be healthy, live longer and be safe from danger. When the data about the two groups of Asian countries were analyzed, the Batik works, techniques and designs were not different because of the similar nationality, religion and Batik art prevalence. The researchers synthesized the obtained data to create the design by using lace fabric as the main material because it was silky. The techniques used in the research were the combination of the natural dyeing, paint brushing and Tjanting, then dye again by using artificial colors and finally draw the pattern by using the fabric pen. The result was the three - dimensional design which was differentiated and distinctive and the laces were inserted between the fabric panel. Moreover, the pastel color from the natural and artificial dyeing was created, and it was sweet, mellow and suitable for creating other new forms of Batik arts.