Batik has boosted local identity in Pamekasan in Madura Island, East Java. Other than being a source of income for locals, batik clothes are commonly worn in various occasions and has become a local source of pride.
By
AGNES SWETTA PANDIA & IQBAL BASYARI
·4 minutes read
On Jl. Trunojoyo heading to the town square in Pamekasan, batik murals greet motorists on both sides of the street. The colorful batik motif murals, including sekar jagat, per keper (butterfly), tong centong (rice ladle), melate seto’or (jasmine bouquet) and ngai (river), adorn the streets in the town.
The batik murals can be seen at various public facilities, including bridges, sidewalks, government offices and official cars. Many locals also wear batik every day.
If you are curious and want to own Pamekasan batik, you can go to Tujuhbelas (Seventeen) Market. Every day, especially on Thursdays and Sundays, hundreds of batik artists display their batik products. Some even set up stalls on the streets. They sell directly at the market to cut down prices.
Since the batik murals became widespread, batik shirts are becoming more common for traveling.
Just 117 kilometers from Surabaya, batik hunters usually depart from East Java’s capital at 6 a.m. and go directly to Tujuhbelas Market. There, batik artists display their products as if they are selling vegetables. Layers of batik fabrics are displayed on top of plastic sheets. Direct transaction with sellers, many of whom only bring two or three pieces of batik fabrics to the market, go on until 9 a.m.
“Since the batik murals became widespread, batik shirts are becoming more common for traveling,” said local Rosihan Anwar, 38, in Pamekasan on Wednesday (8/1/2020).
The Larangan community health center (puskesmas), established in March last year, is also adorned with batik murals. Pamekasan-style batik murals can be seen on the walls on the front of the building. The batik motifs make the walls more interesting to look at, especially for patients waiting in line for medical exams. “Families of our patients often take photos in the puskesmas’ yard,” Puskesmas Larangan worker Khoirunnisa, 26, said.
The Pamekasan regency administration continues to strengthen the city’s identity as a batik city. Since last year, efforts to increase the number of batik murals in public facilities have been boosted. If, in previous years, batik murals were found only on building walls, nowadays even dump trucks and garbage bins are adorned with batik-style paintings.
Wide-ranging impact
Batik is more than just about eye-candy in the city. It also has a wide-ranging impact for locals’ lives. The use of batik on school and office uniforms, for instance, boosts the local economy and pride in local batik products. Students, employees and officials are becoming used to wearing batik. This increases the prestige of batik clothes.
“Locals are also putting batik-style paintings on their cars, like government official vehicles,” Rosihan said.
Batik seller Hamidah said the Pamekasan administration’s batik promotion efforts helped boost batik sales. Locals and visitors from Surabaya come to her store to buy batik products.
“The Pamekasan regency administration encourages us to sell our products online to widen the market for Pamekasan batik, especially as our region is gaining recognition as a batik hub,” she said.
Pamekasan regent Baddrut Tamam said that batik murals were part of the region’s “batik city” campaign. This is good to boost Pamekasan batik’s popularity.
The presence of batik murals in various parts of the town also show that Pamekasan residents are proud of their batik style and are committed to improving the quality and quantity of local-style batik. It is hoped increased pride will boost the local economy.
In Pamekasan, with its 872,000 residents spread across 14 districts, there are at least 38 batik centers with 933 businesses. The batik centers provide a livelihood for 6,526 residents and contribute 2 percent of income from the industrial sector.
“Batik is our identity and inseparable from Pamekasan,” Baddrut said.
Batik murals are not only about making the city look nice. Their presence has boosted local pride and led to love for local products.
Pamekasan, with its motto “Gerbang Salam” (“Islamic Society Development Movement”), has a strong desire to establish its identity as a batik hub like Pekalongan in Central Java.
With the spread of batik murals in various parts of the town and the relative ease of finding batik it is true that batik is now part of Pamekasan’s identity.