Visiting Java - Create your own souvenir in Yogyakarta
Batik painting in Jogja
Borobudur Temple, one of the many attractions around Jogja
Summer 2023 I travelled through Java, Indonesia. I stayed a few days in Yogyakarta, one of the oldest cities in Indonesia. Yogyakarta offers many must-see attractions inside and outside the city such as Taman Sari, Jalan Malioboro, Kota Gede, Prambanan, Borobudur or Merapi Volcano.
I love bringing back home souvenirs from my travels and I love crafting. In Yogyakarta I found two amazing spots where I could learn new crafts and bring back souvenirs that I created with my hands. One of them is Batik Seno Jogja, where you can create your own batik and Silverstudio 76, where you can design and craft your own silver jewelry.
Batik Painting in Yogyakarta at Batik Seno Jogja
Batik is a dyeing technique using wax resist. Batik is made by drawing or stamping wax on a cloth to prevent color absorption during the dyeing process. This creates a patterned negative when the wax is removed from the dyed cloth. The technique developed in Indonesia but is practiced in many other countries such as Malaysia, India or Sri Lanka. Java is famous for its Batik and if you visit Java, you will sooner or later end up in a workshop where they sell Batik in all shapes and sizes.
Batik Seno Jogja sells a lot of beautiful different batik paintings as well as other souvenirs from Java.
I wanted to try Batik painting myself and I found the perfect spot for it: Batik Seno Jogja. Batik Seno was established in 1980 and is run as a family business. They sell a wide selection of batik paintings as well as other souvenirs from Java like shadow puppets or dresses. They have a demonstration how batik paintings are done. For those interested they offer different workshops where you can learn batik painting yourself and take your own creation home.
I drew my own design on a white canvas, first with a pencial and then with the “Tjanting” and wax. However, you can use one of their templates if you are not good at drawing.
I booked their full day class. I could choose one of their templates, but I decided to go with a blank white cotton canvas and draw my own pattern from scratch. The night before my workshop, I spent sketching flowers in my hotel room at The Alana. With a pencil I drew the outlines of my flowers on the canvas. They showed me how to use the “Tjanting”, the Javanese tool for applying liquid wax to the cloth when making batik. Tjantings have a long handle and a little copper or brass pot with a spout from which melted wax is let out. Tjantings can be tricky to use at first but don't be discouraged! I could practice first a bit on a blank canvas before starting my own batik project. I spilled some drops of wax here and there but a lovely elderly batik artist working at Seno Batik corrected my work and got rid of the worst spills of wax. Other droplets, I just turned into flowers or little extra decorations.
After completing my wax design, my canvas was dyed in the color that I chose as background. All parts that I wanted to stay in the background color were covered again with wax. Their batik artists helped me bit too on this step but most I could do on my own after instruction. Then I colored my flowers and leaves in the colors that I wanted to. I had all my artistic freedom. As the last step, the wax was washed out in boiling water and my batik painting dried in the hot tropical sun. Now I had my lovely batik souvenir from Jogja! It was a fun and informative experience.
The finished batik painting! I could take it home with me as a lovely personal souvenir from Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia.
Where is Batik Seno Jogja?
Batik Seno Jogja is located at JL. Mantrijeron, MJ. III/801, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55143, Indonesia.
How to get there?
I stayed at The Alana, so it was a very short but lovely walk for me. If you are staying further away, just order a GoRide through Gojek or hire a “Becak”, a traditional javanese trishaw that is not only used by tourists but also by locals, especially elderly ladies.
How much does it cost?
Currently they are offering their full day class at 400k IDR/person. Check the workshop programm as well as the prices on their Instagram @batikseno_jogja.
Contact:
Melinda from Batik Seno Jogja is very active on Instagram. You can find her Instagram account @batikseno_jogja but you can also contact her through WhatsApp. Her number is +62 818-273-600.
One of their batik artists corrected my mistakes before dying.
After dying, all parts that shoudl stay in the background color were covered in wax and the rest was painted with a brush.
Washing out the wax in boiling water (big pan behind) and then fixing the colors.
The finished batik that I could take home to frame.