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Gigi Haruan Lidi
South Kalimantan Province – Indonesia
Meanings:
The Gigi Haruan Lidi motif is taken from the name of the Haruan fish or cork fish and the Lidi snake. Both Haruan and Lidi have sharp teeth (“gigi”), and these symbolizes sharp-mindedness. Also, according to Banjar folklore, both the Lidi snake and the Haruan fish are smart and courageous animal, as they know how to get themselves out of tricky situations in nature and they do not give up when pursued until death. The Banjar respect them because of they are tricky and it is very difficult to pin them down and capture them. The philosophy behind this motif is that people should be smart and able to read the situation, and be brave until the end.
Note: All contents and batik images are protected by Indonesian cultural property law. This documentation is intended for educational purposes and to facilitate the preservation of Batik UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage 2009. Any use of published materials is allowed only with reference to this website as the original source of publication.
How to preserve Batik
Philosophical Meanings of Batik
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Authentic Batik
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Batik Community
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UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009
Batik Production Process in South Kalimantan
Batik production can take 1 month up to 2 years of working time depending on the purposes of the textile creation and the colour complexity. The Batik handwriting textile is generally made with 8 design steps, ranging from wax patterning to colouring process. The artists use Canting, as a tool to put hot melted wax on the cloth.
Batik Regions
Facts of South Kalimantan
Given its unique topography, South Kalimantan is known as the land of thousand rivers. This area is mostly inhabited by the Banjar tribe. As one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, the Banjar tribe receives significant cultural influences from Hindu, Buddhists, and Islamic kingdoms since the 5th Century. For example, they live together in great clans in the “Bubungan Tinggi” traditional house. This way of living is copied from the way of the royal family who lived there a long time ago.
Batik Villages in South Kalimantan Province
Batik villages are the region where the Batik producers mostly reside and open their Batik workshops, as well as display their Batik products. You could buy the Batik textiles from the artisans and participate in the making process of Batik on the site.
Other Motifs in South Kalimantan
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Bayam Raja
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