Batik: Interpreted the Caribbean Way

Once practiced exclusively by the women of Java`s Royal Court, Batik is now accessible to all. In the Cayman Islands, the millennium-old art and craft form famous in Asia is acquiring a Caribbean flavour as three local artists incorporate their unique styles in their Batik interpretations.

Gracing the walls of the Full of Beans café at Pasadora Place throughout the month are works by Robert McKendrick who successfully reflects tradition and structure, Patricia Nicholson whose colour and design elements create pictures of vibrance and Shirley Scott who achieved the perfect marriage between the Asian art form and Caymanian subjects.

The opening of the exhibit on 5 October saw art enthusiasts admiring titles that include After the Hurricane, Once upon a time in South Sound, Hunter of the East, Market Day, Fish, the Lovely Game, Into the Woods and Tropical Garden, among others.

Batik is a generic technique of wax-resist dyeing used on fabrics such as cotton and silk. It is deeply ingrained into the ancient traditions of the Indonesians and Malays as well as the Thai and Philippine cultures, to a certain extent. The word originates from the Javanese words “amba” and “titik” which mean “to write” and “point”, respectively.

“The intricate patterns are achieved by alternately waxing and dyeing,” explained Ms Nicholson. “We used beeswax and paraffin wax in our works,” she shared.

Wax is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye so that colours will not penetrate into certain areas. The mixture of wax allows for cracking, a distinct characteristic of Batik.

Different techniques constitute wax application. The most traditional uses a wooden canting needle with a tiny metal cup and spout at the tip, through which the wax seeps. Other methods are pouring, painting with a brush or stamping the cloth with a waxed metal or wooden block.

One of the main attractions of Batik is colour. It is this element that engrossed Ms Nicholson towards pursuing the craft. “I have always been interested in colour and my artworks result from its influence as well as that of design,” shared Ms Nicholson as she described her paintings.

Ms Nicholson further revealed that it was through workshops with Robert McKendrick that she learned the basics of this art style. “As you will see, Bob`s approach sticks to the traditional techniques. He was the one who introduced both Shirley and myself to Batik. Shirley has been at it a little longer than me,” she said.

The artist saw herself improving as she grew more accustomed to Batik. “The more relaxed you become, the more you evolve,” shared Ms Nicholson. “My work is very personal. They reflect my Canadian roots as well as my Caymanian flair,” she added.

Revealing the artist`s personality is just one of the allures of Batik. The artistic freedom it affords will surely capture these shores as successfully as it did the opposite side of the world.

Source: www.caymannetnews.com (19 Oktober 2007)
-

Arsip Blog

Recent Posts