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See How Indonesian Batik Gets Mexican Twist

See How Indonesian Batik Gets Mexican Twist

A collection of batik showing a fusion of Mexican and Indonesian influences is currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics in Kota Tua, West Jakarta, until June 3. 

Handmade by Indonesian and Mexican students, the Batik a la Mexicana exhibition commemorates 65 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mexican Ambassador to Indonesia Armando G. Alvarez said the batik exhibition is only the first of a series of events this year to be hosted by the embassy.

The choice of batik, he added, is to celebrate Indonesia's world-renowned technique, which has been included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, and to combine it with Mexican designs for an exchange of culture.

Batik a la Mexicana. Foto: CNN Indonesia
Batik a la Mexicana. Image: CNN Indonesia

In explaining some of the artworks, the ambassador referred to several designs as indigenous Mexican motifs, such as birds and flowers, while others are colonial-inspired or come from contemporary Mexican culture, such as the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 

"So, [the batik display] different Mexican motifs but using an Indonesian technique. What does it mean? Well, it's basically to establish a […] dialogue between the culture of Indonesia and the culture of Mexico," Alvarez told The Jakarta Post during the exhibition’s opening night on Wednesday.

Upon entering the hall, visitors are greeted by a sheet of batik painted pink and featuring three skulls, inspired by pierced paper designs used during the Day of the Dead, a celebration in Mexico that honors deceased loved ones.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) batik print created by Erendira Hernandez. Image: JP/Wienda Parwitasari
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) batik print created by Erendira Hernandez. Image: JP/Wienda Parwitasari

The piece was created by Erendira Hernandez, a Mexican student currently studying in Yogyakarta on government-funded scholarship Darmasiswa, which welcomes foreign students from countries with diplomatic ties to Indonesia to study the Indonesian language, art and culture. 

Several dozen Mexican students have come to Indonesia through the scholarship, Alvarez said.

"It is still a small number because Mexico and Indonesia are still discovering each other," he said, adding that the Latin American country continues to open routes for tourism and cultural exchanges with Indonesia. 

Batik ala Mexicana. Image: Matakota.id
Batik ala Mexicana. Image: Matakota.id

 

Twenty-six fusion batik pieces are on display, a concept that was developed and supported by Mexican Honorary Consul in Yogyakarta Warwick Purser. Three Indonesian artists and two Mexican students, both Darmasiswa scholars, participated in the exhibition.  

Zelda W. Kartika, the Foreign Ministry's director of America I, overseeing North and Central America, said the exhibition is a reflection of the close friendship between the two countries. 

 


Source : The Jakarta Post

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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