DESIGN INSPIRATION: BATIK AS ELEMENTS OF DECORATION

courtesy of Vibizlife

courtesy of Danar Hadi

courtesy of Vibizlife

courtesy of Stylebeat

courtesy of Quadrille

As I said earlier in my previous post, I was ashamed as an Indonesian I had lack in writing about batik on my blog. Whereas in reality there are a lot of products with batik touch whether in technique or pattern that could be use as element of decoration. So as a start I hope this article can satisfy.

Firstly batik was known as a long piece of fabric that used to cover body. It’s like clothe or sarong, for Javanesse. But then batik progress as element of decoration. In the seventies interior designers started using batik fabric for wall hanging, cushion cover, curtain, upholstery sofa and so on. Karl Springer, a Germany born furniture designer, applied batik fabric to wrap his table collection and lacquered them.

In the seventies in Java, batik employers tried to applied batik technique on solid wood like pule, pinus and albasia. And therefore emerged various kind of craft made with batik technique like batik mask or storage box. Because of the difficulty of the batik technique on solid wood, the product came in relatively small dimension.

While Iwan Tirta together with Kedaung, a well known Indonesia ceramic tableware company, on the early millennium released his creation, applying batik motif with China influence on ceramic. His collection named as ‘The Phoenix and Peony Flowers”. Iwan Tirta’s effort had not stopped yet. He explored batik patterns on ceramic combined with gold platted for high end users. His high end collection named as Pusaka Maha Karya. He applied Modang, batik pattern that used and known only for Javanesse aristocrate only. And the collection was expanded into silverware too. His last creation is for Vivere under the series named Vivere Cultural Delight Collection that have launched recently. I bet his collections will be sky rocketing after his death.

Otherwhile, Obin, an Indonesian fabric designer, through label Deya under her Bin House created a series of tableware with batik inspiration made of glass. She used etsa technique to apply batik pattern on glass.

It’s not only Indonesian people who develop batik onto various things. Katherine Rally together with her hubby, who live in Bali, has developed her batik designs on fabric. Her collection are so colorful and vibrant.

Quadrille, a fabric, wallpaper and carpet label, also has numerous products with batik pattern under the series named China Seas. They successfully transform batik into modern style, universal taste and easy to combine product as shown on several editorials of well known decoration magazines.

FROM THE EVENT CASA by BRAVACASA

This Saturday morning I visited the premium living exhibition, CASA by BRAVACASA.

Surprisingly I met an old friend from high school.

After indulging experience in front area, window shopping some well known local furniture brands, I was shocked knowing that there were only several participants in tent area. Guess I didn't read the invitation carefully, -shame on you, tim-. I had assumed that there would be more high end brands gathering together in this event.

I realize that maybe this event supposingly to highlight some local brands and talented young designers. Hopefully next time there will be more local high end brands like Vinotti, Vivere, Joop Fine, Bika, or Saniharto would contribute to this event. Those local furniture lines really make me proud.

Maybe next year Bravacasa needs to consider holding a chair design competition for product or interior design students. So that there will be equal opportunity for students of all local design universities, not just from ITB. There are lots of talents out there that need exposure.

Too bad I can't take picture during the visit. So I grabbed the brochures or CD promo also name cards.

Tough there are no brand new designs appears except ones that presented by industrial design student society ITB, it was really entertaining for eyes to see beautiful table seting by Deya -I think this furniture line was under OBIN, fabric designer-, the design award winner, accupuncto, or other chairs designed by Leonard Theosabrata or Alvin Tjitrowirjo.

Yamakawa rattan really captivated my heart with their classic egg chair design. It's just a mixture of melamic finished natural rattan and chromed iron is just perfect. It combines modern and traditional feel at the same time. I adore their products. No wonder their products become bestseller in Japan.

And the great news is after dozens years selling their product only for exporting to other country like Japan, this year, after Idul Fitri, Yamakawa plans to open their first store in Jakarta. Halleluya.

I found interesting name cards of young designers of ITB. Creativily they made their name cards with cotton fabric ex flour bag, thin plywood and velvet.