Dear Millennials, Invited To Participate In Promoting Batik To Make It More International

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani (Dok DPR Photo)

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, visited the 2023 Nusantara Batik Title (GBN 2023), which has been on hiatus for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For Puan, batik is a cultural heritage that must be preserved and introduced to the world as the identity of the Indonesian nation.

GBN 2023 organized by the Indonesian Batik Foundation (YBI) will be held at SPARK Senayan, Central Jakarta, taking place from August 2 to 6. Puan's presence was greeted directly by the Chairperson of the 2023 GBN Committee who is also the Director of Batik Danar Hadi, Diana Santosa, Wednesday 2 August.

"Batik is not just colorful cloth, but a national heritage art that contains cultural values with high aesthetics that must be supported so that they continue to go international," said Puan.

Puan was present at GBN 2023 with a number of figures. Among them are the wife of the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR)wa Hadi Tjahjanto, Regent of Indramayu Nina Agustina, wife of KSAL Fera Muhamad Ali, wife of KSAL Deputy Wiek Ahmad Heri, and wife of OJK Chairman Ita Mahendra Siregar.

At the event location, Puan and her invited guests watched a fashion show with the theme Ranjana - Indramayu Batik Awakening which is part of the 2023 GBN series. GBN 2023 also highlighted the beauty of batik, wrote Complongan Indramayu, as one of the types of batik that received the recognition of Geographical Indication.

Puan also praised the uniqueness and beauty of batik, wrote Complongan Indramayu for confirming the position of batik as a national cultural asset.

"Not only is the art value recognized, but the recognition of Geographical Indication also brings meaningful economic benefits to the local community. Batik artists are now getting protection for their works from illegal counterfeiting and exploitation practices," explained Puan.

Until now, the Geographical Indication Determination System has succeeded in establishing four Batik Geographical Indication certificates, namely Pekalongan Batik Sarong, Yogyakarta Batik, Bengk Bengkulu Batik and Indramayu Complongan Batik.

Puan said the fashion shows that were attended by six well-known Indonesian designers, namely Didi Budiarjo, Chossy Latu, Wilson William, Hutama Adi, Priyo Octaviano, and Ghea Panggabean, would be an allure for the younger generation to come to GBN 2023.

"This event can be a captivating force for the younger generation to understand, appreciate, and preserve batik. I also see that many young people are now making batik as everyday fashion," said Puan.

Puan also invited the younger generation, including millennials, to participate in promoting batik in their respective ways.

"By ensuring that the use of Indonesian batik continues, I am sure that this art will continue to develop and inspire future generations," added the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno.

Carrying the theme Batik, Bangkit!, GBN 2023 presents 250 booths of Indonesian Batik Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from various regions. GBN this time also exhibited batik inspiration for the interior of the house or home living as an inspiration for batik ornaments.

According to Puan, the batik products on display are able to penetrate the world market because they have the best quality from Indonesian batik craftsmen. Moreover, batik innovation is growing so that it is no longer used only as fashion.

"In line with the theme of GBN 2023, I am sure that the UMKM batik will rise to advance the batik industry in the country," said Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture supports every effort made to promote batik. Puan herself is one of the figures who often promotes archipelago wastra such as batik, one of which is by wearing it in international events.

"If leaders often wear batik on every international agenda, it becomes one of the means of promotion. Apart from being a symbol of Indonesia's identity, the promotion also helps the development of our batik industry," he said.

Memarikan inspirasi batik untuk interior rumah atau home living sebagai inspirasi ornament perbatikan, GBN 2023 bekerja sama dengan tiga Interior Designer Indonesia yaitu Agam Riyadi, Anita Boentarman, dan Hardian Thomas.

Puan said the archipelago batik exhibition would be a momentum for the revival of the batik industry in the country. Breakthroughs in presenting batik as home interior ornaments will also further advance the batik industry, especially for MSME players.

"Efforts to advance batik nusantara need to involve industry players, artists, and designers in development and innovation. Modern mastery of technology and marketing will open up new opportunities for the international market, which will have a positive impact on the economic growth and prosperity of the community," said Puan.

UNESCO itself has designated batik as a Humanitarian Heritage Karya Agung Budaya Lisan and Nonbendawi from Indonesia. For this reason, Puan invites the Indonesian people from all walks of life to preserve batik as a cultural heritage of the pride of the homeland.

"The DPR also continues to provide support to every batik promotional program, so that our cultural heritage can continue and be increasingly known abroad," said the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.

Not only that, Puan also appreciated Charity and Fund Raising, which is one of the other series of GBN 2023 events. The activity is in collaboration with the Indonesian Cancer Foundation, the Indramayu Regional Government and the auction of two Vespa Batik units from Piaggio Indonesia which aims to help empower women and people with cancer in Indonesia.

"This event is also a reflection of mutual cooperation to ease the burden together through a charity agenda, which especially aims to help empower women and cancer sufferers," said Puan.

At the close of GBN 2023 on August 6, there will be a 5-kilometer Fun Walk and Run activity starting from the location of the GBN event and ending at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK). This sporting activity will be a place to promote and as the first step in the revival of the batik industry in Indonesia.

"Let's make batik a characteristic of Indonesia. Loving batik means also taking part in the progress of Indonesian culture," concluded Puan.