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Oscar Lawalata set to exhibit Batik at UNESCO Paris headquarters

Indonesian designers are slated to showcase batik cloths and ready-to-wear collections this summer in Paris.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, May 11, 2018

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Oscar Lawalata set to exhibit Batik at UNESCO Paris headquarters Indonesian designers are slated to showcase batik cloths and ready-to-wear collections this summer in Paris. (Kompas.com/Nabilla Tashandra)

D

esigner Oscar Lawalata is preparing to showcase 100 batik cloths at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Supported by the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, the batik cloths will be displayed in an exhibition titled “Batik for the World”, slated to take place at the headquarters from June 6 to 12.

Kompas.com reported that designers Edward Hutabarat and Denny Wirawan are also among the delegates.

A press conference on Tuesday saw Oscar Lawalata explaining that Indonesians today were proud to wear batik. While batik was added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list in 2009, Oscar realizes the importance of preserving the heritage.

“We need to make the world aware of how batik is developing in Indonesia,” said Oscar in a press conference at Galeri Indonesia Kaya, Jakarta.

He will, therefore, bring six batik brands from Kediri, Sidoarjo, Madura, Trenggalek, Ponorogo, and Tuban. It took him two years to collect the cloth.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to check out the batik and meet around 30 batik craftspeople and witness the intricacy of batik making. They will see how malam (hot liquid wax), canting (special copper-bowled implement) and other tools are used to make batik cloth.

“I intend to show visitors that batik is a luxury product [based on the way it is made],” said Oscar.

The exhibition will also allow visitors to give batik making a try.

Oscar emphasized that this was not his exhibition. The batik and the craftspeople were the stars, while designers transformed and presented batik works that were ready-to-wear. He recalled saying in a previous presentation at UNESCO that the exhibition would focus on the craftspeople.

Read also: Natural-dyed batik businesses flourishing in Yogyakarta

Batik as a ‘main course’

Around 24 batik-themed clothes will be showcased in the conference hall of UNESCO headquarters, in front of cultural delegates from all over the world.

Denny Wirawan is set to present his Kudus batik collection carrying the theme “Wedhari” (fairies), similar to what he showcased at the end of 2017. The collection comprises glamorous evening gowns featuring stylish and contemporary designs.

Meanwhile, Oscar is preparing to present a collection of cocktail dresses, considering that it will already be summer in Paris in June. Summer colors, embroidery and beads will accentuate the ready-to-wear collection.

Edward Hutabarat, on the other hand, is going to showcase wedding attire featuring coastal-themed Pekalongan and Cirebon batik. He expects the batik to be the equivalent of a main course in meals.

“This is about how we make batik to attract ladies who are wearing the likes of limited edition Hermes bags and Celine shoes. And I make a coat out of Parang batik, so that they wear it as a ‘main course’, where the bag and shoes are just desserts,” explained Edward.

In the end, Edward said a good main course had to be paired with good dessert, and that “guests” should say “thank you for the beautiful dinner.” He is crossing his fingers that the exhibition will be met with an enthusiastic response. (mut)

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