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Batik-making in the middle of coffee plantation
In a small room made of wood, dozens of children sat on low stools, absorbed in drawing on pieces of cloth
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In a small room made of wood, dozens of children sat on low stools, absorbed in drawing on pieces of cloth. Once in a while, a child would blow on his or her canting, a writing instrument in the shape of a bowl with a pointy spout, or dip the canting into a vessel like a small frying pan, which contained the brownish malam (wax for batik-making). This vessel was in reach of the children, placed on a stove so the wax would remain liquid and could be used in the same way as ink.
Sitting in front of these children was a 10-year-old girl, also doing the same thing. But, unlike the others, this girl said something every now and then. She seemed to be teaching the other children.
The children were pupils of Bernardus elementary school, Semarang, Central Java, and on that weekend, they were in this 5 x 7 meter room, learning how to make batik.
For children like these, who have a closer relationship with the television and PlayStation than with nature, this was a new experience. Batik-making, pottery and painting were interesting new skills.
Certainly, this is what Agnes Susan, a fourth grader, said after trying to make batik at Lerep Art Village.
"Making batik turned out to be very difficult but it is quite an absorbing experience. Although at first I thought I would never be able to do it, I kept on trying until I could.
"Look at this, Mas, the malam spilled everywhere," said Agnes, showing where several drops of malam had fallen from the canting onto her T-shirt.
The batik-making was part of the program of Lerep Art Village, which sits in the middle of a coffee plantation on the slopes of Mount Ungaran. It is here that elementary school, high school and university students learn the necessary techniques to produce artwork.
Over here they do not just learn how to make batik. They are first introduced to the instruments needed for batik-making and the basic techniques, such as how to hold the canting, dissolve malam and identify various batik motifs.
Then they are allowed the freedom to design their own batik motifs such as butterflies, flowers or even landscapes.
"We try to introduce these kids to batik. However, in reality, we introduce them not only to batik but also to art and culture in general. It would be a pity if the art and culture of this nation were not introduced to children from early age," said Ayu Prawitasari, one of the mentors.
Indeed, Lerep Art Village has other rooms for pottery and painting workshops. Just like the rooms for batik-making, in these workshops the students can learn more about art.
In the pottery room, for example, the students learn how to make slanting-turn earthenware. Earthenware of this kind is on the point of extinction as it has usually been replaced by modern earthenware.
In Indonesia, slanting-turn earthenware is made only in Melikan village, Wedi district, Central Java. The craft of making this earthenware is said to be more than 600 years old.
The uniqueness of this earthenware lies in the technique used to make it. This technique is known as perbot miring or pelarik, which is a technique that positions a thin, flat piece as a turning instrument that leans forward a few degrees. This technique cannot be found anywhere else, in Indonesia or the world.
And it was in this pottery room, also not large, that the students of SMP I Ungaran, Semarang regency, allowed themselves to be smeared with clay as they were learning how to make the earthenware.
"I happen to like ceramics and earthenware but do not know how to make them. Since I happened to be in this place, I decided to use this opportunity to make some earthenware. Well, it turned out to be quite difficult," said Agus Herlambang, a student.
After learning how to make earthenware, these students then learned about art or painting. They were not only taught the basic techniques of painting but were also acquainted with the names of famous artists and schools of art.
-- Ken Mahesa
