Introduction
Batik growth in Indonesia is really dominant from Javanese royalty, that is why Java as the center of batik in cities like Jogjakarta, Solo, Pekalongan, Cirebon and other places in Java. And also in each cities has their own surplus in designs, colors and motifs. The influence from foreign cultures are greatly influenced in batik designs, from Arabian merchants and Chinese and also European specially Holland (Netherland).
This are all we can see like in Northern coast of Java in Pekalongan or Cirebon, those designs are very influenced by other culture with the combination of bright colors and motifs from birds, flowers and trees. That is why, this batik from north coast of Java are known as modern batik, whereas batik from middle of Java are still original and traditional.
Cirebon’s Batik
Batik Cirebon also called Batik Trusmi,this is because the famous region in Cirebon that known as a Batik maker is Trusmi. From this region, creates many kinds of motif and pattern of Batik Cirebon. The style of Batik Cirebon known as a seaboard batik and it’s more Colorful challenge.
The famous motif is Mega Mendung which influenced by palace of Kingdom in Cirebon. The other example of motif Batik Cirebon is the combination between Mega Mendung, Pesisiran, and Lurik ( flower and bird ). Most of motif Batik Cirebon represent worshiped device showing strength of bravery and sometimes aggressive.
Yogyakarta’s Batik
Yogyakarta the capital city of the most powerful and respected Kingdom of Java, is also at the heart of the Batik art. The combination of motifs in Yogya batik is unique, and there is a tendency to combine a number of large geometric motifs. The Grompol motif is a distinctively Yogya design customarily used for wedding ceremonies. Grompol, which means "gather together" symbolizes the coming together of all goods things, such as luck, happiness, children, and harmonious married life. The Nitik motif is found in great numbers in this area. During a colonial annual fair (Jaarbeurs) during the Dutch period, a batik producer gave the name Nitik Jaarbeurs to a motif which received an award.
PEKALONGAN’S BATIK
Most of these batiks were sarongs, perhaps because Dutch settlers found them easier to to wear. In this group of batiks we find the buketan motifs, depicting flowers and fruits thet grew in Holland, like chrysanthemums and grapes, and flowers arrangements in European style.
SOLO’S BATIK
The motifs of the Solo design are related to the Hindu-Javanese culture: the Sawat symbol of the crown or highest power, the Meru symbol of mountain or earth, the Naga symbol of the water, the Burung symbol of the wind or upper world and the Lidah Api symbol of the fire. In Solo there were special rules about wearing of batik. 1) the social position of the wearer, 2) the occasion on which the batik was worn or used. This was in connection with the meaning and hope or wish symbolized by the motif.
