Batik Pesisir, Yesterday and Today

http://www.thelanguageofcloth.com/2015/05/batik-pesisir-yesterday-and-today

Katherine Rally Batik Fabric

Photo credit:  Knight Moves

Wax Resist Paintings from China

These 2 photos are the top and bottom of a long piece.  Cotton, bought in a little town outside Dali in Yunnan.

and a few more . . .

I bought these pieces from Wendy, a Chinese lady selling at a flee market in Kuala Lumpur (KL). She comes from mainland China, lives in KL for many years now, importing Chinese handicrafts and sells them in KL.  I am not quite sure what these pieces are for other than decorative items, maybe the locals sell them to visiting tourists.  I like the subject, the eccentricity in each of the characters are most charming.  I'd love to know where they are from, Wendy was not sure, she found  them in Beijing.  Yunnan came to mind, the big hairdo and horn shape hair piece are reminiscent of some minorities in Southwest China.  But  the turban and exposed belly are very much Indian.

Batik from China

Those painted toe nails are so pretty!

Batik from China

I like the V belly button - a crucial detail in all its simplicity!

I like the ring on the finger.  Wonder what is that on the bottom lip?  

The Chinese character on the pendant says ' long life '.

Indonesia's Batik makers turn sustainable practice into an art form

Producers of traditional textiles are being taught cleaner and more efficient methods

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/aug/23/indonesia-batik-makers-sustainable-methods

Ikatbatik, Jln. Monkey Forest, Ubud.

While wondering along Jl. Monkey Forest during my recent stay in Ubud, tucked away behind some shop houses, I came across the beautiful ikat batik works of Kadek Wira in his very lovely and spacious gallery. He told me the gallery space is only a couple of years old.  It has been a family property, but in a dilapidated state for a while due to years of neglect.  Next to a deep river with lush greenery on the banks, it is now a beautiful gallery with the possible addition of a cafe later in future.  Kadek Wira sells not only his own works at the gallery, but he is also helping local weavers in remote Indonesian villages to market their textiles, where any contact with the outside world is limited and so are outlets that promote their works.

Ikatbatik website, http://www.ikatbatik.com/index.html

Kadek Wira talking about his works and sharing his aspirations, pictured here with the eldest of his 2 daughters who has just woken up from a sleep.

Ikat batik works of Kadek Wira.

Ikat Batik, Jl. Monkey Forest, Ubud Bali, Indonesia. -  This shop front is not immediately visible from the main street.  One has to go through a corridor, which is in between the row of shops along Jl. Monkey Forest.  It is not easy to miss as the walls of the corridor are adorned with big pieces of  Kadek Wira's ikat batik.