Batik

Indonesia has so many great cultures, because of the multiethnicity in this country. Not to mention there are so many different tribes, such as Javanese people, Sundanese, Dayak, and many more. Every tribe has something that makes them different than the others, and different cultures that if we combine them are what people call Indonesian Culture. Right now I'm about to tell you about one of Indonesia's most popular culture, the traditional fabric, Batik. It would be impossible to visit or live in Indonesia and not be exposed to one of the country's most highly developed art form.

The word "Batik" is thought to be derived from the word 'ambatik" that means "a cloth with little dots", or from the Javanese word "tritik" which describes a process similar to tie-dyeing. another phrase that is thought to be the origin of the word is the Javanese phrase "mbatik manah" that means "drawing a batik design on the heart". Some experts feel that batik was originally reserved as an art form for Javanese royalty. Javanese royalty were known to be great patrons of the arts and provided the support necessary to develop many art forms, such as silver ornamentation, wayang kulit (leather puppets) and gamelan orchestras
  
Modern batik still utilizes canting and cap to create intricate designs. Fashion designers such as Iwan Tirta have introduced batik into the world fashion scene. They have done much to promote the Indonesian art of batik dress, in its traditional and modern forms.
  
But even though Batik is a  great culture that we have, we didn't really appreciate it in the past. Because we didn't appreciate it, another country claimed Batik as they're original culture. We didn't guard it well enough, and we didn't appreciate it as much as we do now, after we claimed it as ours. Therefore, I think that we shouldn't let something like that happen again to us. we should protect the cultures we have now by not neglecting any of it even the smallest ones. If we do, other countries can claim it as theirs, and said that we're not taking care of it well. It would be a disadvantage to all of us. So starting from now, we should appreciate what we have, and don't let it be taken by other countries :-)

-Amyra Putri Larasati