Bank Indonesia Holds Tegal Batik Motif Capacity Building Event, Means for Empowering Tegalan Batik Craftsmen

 The Bank Indonesia Representative Office (KPwBI) Tegal is committed to increasing the role of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by holding capacity development activities in the decoration and knowledge of Tegal batik motifs at Vannamei Resto, Tegal City, Central Java, on Tuesday, date June 4, 2024.

This event was attended by members of the Joint Business Cooperative Subsistence (KUB) group Nur Elza Bengle from Talang District, Tegal Regency, Central Java, who was supported by the presence of a Batik Technology Lecturer from Pekalongan University, Zahir Widadi, as the main speaker, as reported by Suara Merdeka Pantura .

Head of KPwBI Tegal, Marwadi, stated that the development of MSMEs is directed in accordance with the duties, vision and mission of Bank Indonesia, which aims to expand financial access for MSMEs to support financial system stability.

"Batik Tegalan is one of Indonesia's cultural heritages in the former Pekalongan Residency, which is rich in historical values, the beauty of classical motifs, and deep symbolic meaning," said Murwadi as quoted by Suara Merdeka Pantura on Wednesday (5/6/2024) .

He explained that Batik Tegalan is part of Indonesia's cultural heritage in the former Pekalongan Residency area, which is rich in historical values, the beauty of classical motifs and deep symbolic meaning.

Apart from that, the motifs produced by this batik also combine Tegal's geography, namely the north coast (Pantura) and agricultural areas.

With this activity, Marwadi hopes that batik craftsmen can receive new knowledge in making Tegalan batik designs and motifs from conception and development, so that they can accommodate national and international market tastes.

"Through collaboration from PNM, the Tegal Regency Government and the Faculty of Batik Engineering, Pekalongan University, I am confident that we will be able to produce Tegalan batik works that are stunning and enrich the nation's cultural treasures, so that Tegalan batik craftsmen can advance to class," he explained.

He added that the participants were expected to be able to maximize capacity building moments as a step towards success in preserving and developing Tegalan batik art.

The companion of Tegalan batik craftsmen, Agus Rianto, welcomed this activity and hoped that it could help batik craftsmen to advance to class. Moreover, the training was provided directly from the renowned batik assessor, Zahir Widadi.

From this training, participants received material and practice in making batik, starting with drawing a pattern design on paper which was then poured onto mori cloth.

Agus, a Tegalan batik craftsman, explained that previously they usually made pattern designs directly on the cloth and scratched the canting. However, after attending training, they learned better methods to reduce failures in the manufacturing process.

Agus, who is also a member of the Nur Elza joint business group (KUB), felt happy because he was trusted by Bank Indonesia to accompany around 20 KUB members in capacity building activities. It is hoped that the new knowledge he has gained will help in developing Tegalan batik which has a variety of motifs.

"With this training, we will have richer knowledge for our work. Tegalan Batik can be developed more widely, not only in the form of clothing, but also as sarongs, shirts, blouses and long cloth," he said.

Meanwhile, Zahir Widadi delivered material about the development of batik, including decorative variations, use of color and types of fabric. He also explained the differences between Surakarta, Yogyakarta batik and batik from coastal areas.

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