Discover Batik in Jakarta

Batik in Jakarta Fashion Week (photo: Satu Lingkar)

The Batik Learning activities in Palbatu Workshop (photo: @Republika)

Ondel-ondel Betawi folklore as the Batik inspiration in Jakarta (photo: Betawi )

The Spark of Colours and Passion

The Jakarta batik was first known and developed along with batik in other areas around the end of the 19th century, when it was brought by migrants from Central Java. Today, youth communities actively conduct batik workshops in cooperation with local cafes and restaurants in order to raise youth participation in safeguarding our intangible heritage. Hundreds of people in Jakarta have attended these workshops, including students, the disabled, and children.

Batik Villages in Jakarta

Batik areas in Jakarta are spread precisely near the Tanah Abang region: Karet, Ilir Dam and Udik Dam, Kebayoran Lama, Mampang Prapatan, and Tebet. In 2011, Mr. Budi Dharmawan and his colleagues initiated Kampoeng Batik Pal Batu in Tebet, and created the Jakarta Batik Carnival the following year. His love of batik propels him to share knowledge about batik through batik-making courses. He also encourages the residents of Kampoeng Batik Palbatu to open and develop their own batik workshops and galleries.

Community Engagement and Government Support

In 2017, the Batik mural district in Tangerang City was created by several artists. They sought to raise the people’s awareness of the philosophy of batik, and to get people to preserve batik in their neighbourhood. In 2018, the Indonesian government launched certification of batik as a national cultural profession. Batik producers can obtain this certificate after passing several assessments, including assessments of the making process, the philosophy, and the use of natural dyes.

Batik Motifs in Jakarta

Find the meanings

Batik Villages in Jakarta

local batik workshop

Batik villages are the region where the Batik producers mostly reside. You could buy the Batik textiles from the artisans and participate in the making process of Batik on the site.

learn more

Jakarta

Visual Journey

in 1 Minute

Batik Production in Jakarta

Batik Jakarta Fashion Week

The Vibrant Capital of Indonesia

JakaRta

Jakarta city center (photo: Kahfi Dirga)

About Jakarta

Jakarta officially became the Capital of the Republic of Indonesia in 1966. In the 14th century, it served as the main port of Pajajaran Kingdom. Today, Jakarta serves as business, political and cultural center. It is the location of the Indonesian state palace, ministry offices, and the headquarters of state-owned enterprises, national private companies, and foreign companies. The city is also the seat of the ASEAN Secretariat office, international bodies, and the embassies of many countries.

Jakarta Landscape

The total area of DKI Jakarta Province is 7,659.02 km square, consisting of a land area of 661.52 km square (including the area size of 110 islands in the Thousand Islands), and an ocean area of 6,997.50 km square.

The Betawi are the native tribe of Jakarta. Due to its strategic location as a port city, other tribes and peoples, such as the Javanese, Minangkabau, Chinese, Indians, and Arabs, come to trade and end up making their homes here for generations.

Jakarta is the 17th out of the top 40 cities with the most skyscrapers in the world. It is served by two airports, namely Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, and three seaports in Tanjung Priok, Sunda Kelapa, and Ancol. (Photo: Rizky Maharani, Wikipedia)

Highlights on Culture

The population of Jakarta is 10.5 million people (2019). The religious majority of the population is Muslims (83.30%), with other adherents being Protestant Christians (8.62%), Catholics (4.04%), Buddhists (3.84%), Hindus (0.21%), and Confucians (0.06%).

Jakarta not only has 47 museums, but also cultural and art attractions scattered all over the city. There are private galleries, theatre clubs, art shops, and classic and contemporary museums.

One of typical traditional dances in Jakarta is the Betawi Masked Dance. This is a theatrical dance that communicates a story through body movements, music, and interactions. (Photo: Betawi Masked Dance, @indonesiainside)