Description
Solo is also know as Surakarta, is a city located in Central Java, Indonesia. It’s situated in the southern part of Central Java province, near the border with East Java. Solo lies about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Yogyakarta and around 560 kilometers (348 miles) southeast of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Solo is know for its rich of Javanese culture, traditional arts (like Batik and gamelan), royal palaces (Keraton Surakarta and Mangkunegaran Palace), and strong historical significance as a former royal capital. It’s one of the main cultural centers of Java alongside Yogyakarta
Tulis is the premium style of batik where the entire design is applied by hand using a tool called a canting (pronounced chanting). It is a pen-like instrument made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the hot wax which flows through the spout.
The cloth is then dipped in dye or the colour is painted on. After the cloth is dry the wax is removed by boiling the cloth. The areas treated with wax keep their original colour. This process is repeated as many times depending on how many colours are desired. The process can take days or even weeks for more complex designs and colours.
Natural Dyeing Process
Beautiful soft tones as well as strong and vibrant colours are produced using only natural dyes. The process to produce strong colours that last is often a long one. It takes generations of local knowledge which is being lost with the popularity of chemical dyes.
The blue is made from indigo which is grown and harvested locally. It is first soaked in water mixed with lime powder. The lime reacts with the leaf and turns the water blue. It is them fermented for weeks to ensure the colour is strong and will remain in the cloth. Thread is then soaked in the dye mix, beaten with a wooden mallet to send the colour to the centre of the thread, dried, then the process repeats numerous time depending on the desired colour.
Red, yellow, brown, green and black are produced with various roots and leaves, sometimes mixed together for varying colour tones.
Click here to see batik being made