SURABAYA, Indonesia – Since she tried working on it for the first time two years ago, the art of making batik has become a source of joy and fun for Qurrota’ain Rizky Cahyani, a 14-year-old student with ADHD.
“It just makes me happy,” said the junior high school student from SMP Muhammadiyah, in northern Surabaya, East Java.
Fondly called Tata by family and friends, Cahyani particularly enjoys making batik with aquatic animal designs. Among her favorites are “Suro and Boyo”, the shark and crocodile symbols of Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city.
Tata is one of 15 children with special needs (such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and speech or hearing impairments) who participated in batik-making sessions at the Midtown Hotel Surabaya last October.
The event, aptly named “Daur Rupa,” combines the word “Daur,” which refers to recycling and reusing discarded materials, with “Rupa,” symbolizing something of artistic value. It served multiple goals: promote environmental sustainability through recycling; promote the batik craft to the younger generation; and provide kids with developmental conditions, like Tata, outlets for emotional expression.
As part of the event, discarded hotel bedsheets from Midtown Hotel Surabaya were repurposed, cut into sections, and used as canvases for children’s creative batik work. “This aligns with our commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing waste,” said Midtown Hotel Surabaya Public Relations Officer William Sihombing. It’s also part of the hotel’s social responsibility program aimed at supporting inclusivity and creativity, while also promoting batik as a vital piece of Indonesia’s cultural heritage, he added.
Therapeutic intervention
For children like Tata, working on batik, made possible through events like Daur Rupa, could be a significantly enriching experience.
Prior to being taught how to make batik, children with special needs at Rumah Anak Prestasi, a facility run by the Surabaya city government, were taught to paint. Rumah Anak Prestasi, which roughly translated, means Children’s House of Achievement, is a place where children with special needs develop skills and competencies outside formal school.
There are various types of training provided: from music, handicrafts, sewing, modeling, and painting. Currently, Rumah Anak Prestasi facilities are in four locations, Nginden Semolo, Sono Indah, Kedung Cowek, and Dukuh Menanggal. Each accommodates 200 children with disabilities. Tata goes to the facility in Kedung Cowek.
However, Leo Arief Budiman, founder of Disabilitas Berkarya (roughly translates to: Disability to Work), a community that helps raise awareness and seeks to empower children with disabilities, along with their parents, saw that batik had the potential to boost their talents.
“Initially, painting was a basic talent,” Budiman, one of the mentors at Rumah Anak Prestasi, said. “Batik is also used to develop patience and motor abilities.”
Since being introduced to the art of batik when she was 13, Tata has gone on to win awards for her batik art work. In August 2024, she received the “Best Line Master” award at the “We Are The World Event” in Jakarta.
According to child psychologist Linda Hartati, music and other extracurricular activities can be therapeutic for children with ADHD. “Rather than simply teaching skills, these activities provide an outlet for emotional expression,” she said.
Hartati explained that children with ADHD possess unique strengths and abilities, despite their challenges. Through various therapeutic interventions, including music and art therapy, children can develop these strengths and overcome their difficulties. Further, by providing children with opportunities to express themselves creatively, they can build self-esteem and confidence.
Ultimately, the goal is to help these children reach their full potential.
For instance, Hartati said, music, with its rhythms and melodies, can help children with speech delays to connect with their emotions. The expressive nature of music allows children to feel less isolated and more engaged in their learning. “By focusing on the rhythm and melody of a song, children with ADHD can improve their concentration and coordination, skills that are often challenging for them.”
In the same way, Hartati said, the fine motor skills involved in batik painting can help children develop better hand-eye coordination and patience. Choosing colors and creating patterns can also help children focus their attention and channel their energy in a positive way.
Potential source of income
Particularly for children with ADHD like Tata, who may get impulsive or easily distracted, the process of creating a batik piece can be a calming and rewarding experience, according to Hartati. This makes batik an excellent avenue for therapeutic intervention for children with ADHD.
In addition to the batik-making session, the October event also featured an exhibition of batik created by people with mental health conditions, who are supported by the Liponsos Social Services of Surabaya.
Liponsos is a government institution under the Social Services Department that provides welfare services, including shelter and rehabilitation for the homeless, mentally ill, and those with psychotic disorders.
Around 40 batik pieces created by individuals from the Liponsos Keputih facility were showcased at the event. Imam Muhaji, head of Liponsos Keputih, explained that batik-making serves as a form of rehabilitation for individuals with mental disabilities, helping them improve their focus and manage their emotions.
Participants were also involved in the coloring process of the batik fabrics, preparing them for sale. “Through batik, these individuals can also earn income,” Muhaji said.
Preserving an intangible cultural heritage
Besides helping kids like Tata, initiatives like Daur Rupa also help preserve the craft of making batik, an Indonesian art form which had been recognized by UNESCO in 2009 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Batik is both an art form and a craft that has gained international recognition as a creative medium. The process of decorating cloth with wax and dye has been practiced for centuries in various parts of the world, including China, Japan, India, and even Europe and South America.
In Indonesia, particularly on the island of Java, batik holds deep cultural significance, and some of the world’s finest batik fabrics are produced there. The term “batik” is derived from the Javanese word “tik,” meaning “to dot.”
Batik can refer both to the process of batik-making and the final product. Traditionally made on fabrics like cotton or silk, batik techniques can also be applied to paper, wood, leather, and ceramics.
According to UNESCO, batik’s techniques, symbolism, and cultural importance are deeply intertwined with Indonesian life. It is worn in daily settings, like business or academic environments, and also plays a central role in major life events, such as weddings and pregnancies, as well as in traditional arts like puppet theater.
Special batik cloths are even used in rituals, including the ceremonial offering of royal batik to volcanoes. Despite these, many Indonesians take this art form for granted.
“It’s been recognized by UNESCO, but it’s a pity if we don’t understand the process,” said Budiman.
Batik enthusiasts hope that more Indonesians get to appreciate and embrace their cultural heritage through batik. Budiman said he also hopes that batik would resonate with the younger generation. “At the very least, they should have the experience of making batik once in their lifetime.”
Preventing marginalization
At Liponsos, residents are given the freedom to design their own batik pieces. They often create abstract patterns using a splatter technique.
“They usually make splatter patterns, and we give them creative freedom with colors. Afterward, traditional batik motifs are added by their mentors,” Muhaji explained.
One of the featured batik pieces in the exhibition was titled, “Splatter Batik with Various Motifs of Life’s Journey,” combining splatter techniques with butterfly motifs made using stamps.
Muhaji said he hopes people with disabilities should no longer be marginalized. “These individuals are just like us, and their work can compete with those without disabilities,” he stressed.
“Hopefully, society will allow them to create freely and not exclude them,” Muhaji said. – Rappler.com
Artika Farmita is a journalist and fact-checker for Tempo.co (https://cekfakta.tempo.co/), based in Surabaya, Indonesia. She is one of Rappler’s #FactsMatter Fellows for 2024
