Narrativizing Indonesia: Putting Space on Batik Betawi

Abstract

The identity of Betawi people living in Jakarta area is still part of the debate among the people with different interests. On one hand, some experts consider the Betawi concept to emerge along with colonial influence in Batavia. On the other hand, others believe that Betawi as a concept has existed long before the colonial period came. In its proclamation, the identity of being Betawi becomes increasingly complex when it is associated with socio-political development in the capital. Betawi as an ethnic group in the capital is no longer a dominant part due to the fact that Jakarta as a concept not only represents Betawi, but also illustrates the concept of liquid and more cosmopolitan ethnicity. In such circumstances, the Betawi identity is always present in the tension between contemporary Jakarta and the marginalized Betawi. These tensions lead the need to construct a marker of being Betawi as something necessary according to its supporters. Consequently, Betawi society has got many attempts to mark the more explicit treasures of cultural expressions which are considered to come from Betawi culture again. This can be seen from the various expressions of Betawi culture: the performing arts-samrah, lenong-and the cultural heritage of objects, such as ondel-ondel. In this case, textiles, clothing, and costumes are also parts strongly associated with the representation of society. Lately, there have been symptoms in Betawi society to work on the batik concept from an identity perspective conducted by a group of Betawi cultures. With the concept of space and place tagging, this analysis will see the issue of Betawi and Jakarta contestation in the form of batik as an interesting fact inasmuch as this illustrates the complexity of Indonesian identity problems with various cultural backgrounds that have developed in each region.