Batik workshop

Batik has been popular a long time in Java. The word 'batik' originates from two words: 'amba' means 'writing' and 'titik' means 'dot' or 'point'. So, batik is writing with dots. Traditionally we use a tjanting, a Javanese washing pen and candle wax to batik.

We start off with drawing a pattern or an image on a piece of cloth with a pencil. Then we 'batik' over it with the tjanting filled with candle wax. Next step is painting or colouring the whole cloth in a big bath of paint. The paint only goes where there is no wax. With this simple technique it is possible to make beautiful and complex images.