BATIK MOTIFS AS A MEANS OF BUILDING FOR PEACE: JAVANESE PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Batik is an Indonesian masterpiece with a variety of motifs. Among the motifs are expressions of human local genius, ideas, and community life expression. Hope, peace, and history were all expressed through batik motifs. The idea of peace brought by batik motifs is discussed in this paper. The batik's expression of peace has been reflected in its production. Batik cloth is created through a lengthy process. The makers can initiate by sketching motifs with a pencil, and then use wax to illuminate the motifs. The wax serves to both block and color the material. Waxing is a time-consuming process for blocking and coloring the fabric and completing a piece of batik cloth requires patience. Peace can only be achieved through patience, which can be seen in batik designs. Many symbols of peace can be found in batik motifs. The symbols reflect the harmonic situation with (1) God, (2) nature, and (3) creatures. The semen motif is associated with a harmonious relationship with God representing shaped like a God (deva) palace, symbolizing both the human and the divine. Batik always illustrates nature, and the parang motif illustrates the human-mountain-ocean bond. To reach the sea, the mountain must have a slope. In Javanese, pereng or parang refers to a slope. The Sekar Jagat motif (universe flowers) portrays a human in relation to the world or universe. The Truntum motif describes harmony with the night sky, stars, and flowers. There are patterns in the motif that are mostly taken from nature. I.e., the ceplok pattern adopts flowers in bloom, the lereng (slopes) pattern adopts a downhill road, the patterns semen adopts a plant in its first growth stage, the lunglungan pattern adopts tree vines, and the buketan pattern adopts flower or foliage arrangement. When humans have a harmonious relationship with nature, peace is formed. As a result, various batik motifs convey a message of world peace. Batik is a type of media used to promote peace in the world. Harmony with God, nature, and one another exemplifies peace.