Library

National and International Publications on SEA Textiles

BATIK. Spirit of Unanimous Artisans

Author: Kyungwoon Museum. 2015. 119 pg. (Korean and English)
Publisher: -

This is an exhibition catalogue of Indonesian batik textiles and art objects.

BATIKKU

Author: Afif Syakur. 2020. 310pg. (in Indonesian)
Publisher: PPBI Sekar Jagad, Yogyakarta

This book follows Afif's journey as a batik artisan, entrepreneur, and fashion designer, showcasing his diverse collection of ancient Javanese court batiks and vibrant batiks from Pekalongan on the north coast.

BATIKKU, Pengabdian Cinta tak Berkata (My Batik, the Unspoken Devotion of Love). The Batik Collection of Ani Bambang Yudhoyono.

Author: Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, 2010. 224pgs. (Indonesian) Softcover
Publisher: Kompas Gramedia, Jakarta

Ani Yudhoyono’s My Batik is both a cultural memoir and a literary homage to Indonesia’s textile heritage, blending personal reflection with philosophical meditation on batik as a living tradition. It elevates batik beyond craft, presenting it as a moral compass, a repository of local wisdom, and a symbol of national identity. The text emphasizes batik as a collective art form, produced through gotong royong (mutual cooperation). Ani portrays each piece of batik as a silent witness to centuries of communal creativity. Batik is described as a local wisdom, inseparable from Indonesia’s soil and roots, Ani frames batik as more than attire—it embodies manners, ethics, and worldview, shaping both personal and collective identity. Her narrative intertwines autobiography with cultural commentary, revealing how batik influenced her life, family traditions, and even her final choices of garment. Ani employs lyrical prose, often personifying batik as a living entity with a “soul”. And interpretes Batik motifs as metaphors for continuity, harmony, and moral order.While deeply personal, the text resonates with ethnographic qualities, documenting artisanship and cultural practices. As a cultural significance, the book reinforces batik’s designation by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2009). The book is richly personal, yet culturally expansive, as it elevates batik from material culture to philosophical discours.

BATIKKU. Cita dan Cintaku bagi Indonesia

Author: Murdijati Gardjito & Karina, Rima Melati, Editors. 2020. 304pg. (Indonesia)
Publisher: Global Pustaka Utama Yogyakarta & PPBI Sekar Jagad

This volume, published by Sekar Jagad in Yogyakarta, offers a comprehensive exploration of the etymology of "batik." Contrary to the previous belief that the term originated from "titik" (which means dot), Manu Widyaseputro, a prominent philologist specializing in Javanese culture, convincingly argues that it derives from "tika" (which means drawing). The book presents various perspectives on batik and emphasizes the important preservation efforts being undertaken by different groups. It features insightful articles from dedicated experts in the field.

BEBERAPA CONTOH SENI HIAS BALI (A Few Balinese Decorative Art Patterns)

Author: I GUSTI WINARTA, 1986. 60pg. (Indonesian)
Publisher: Wina Letter, Tabanan, Bali (digital print)

This small booklet presents some traditional Balinese art patterns.

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