By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 18: The Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) has been honored with a prestigious invitation to participate in the Batik Festival Celebration in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, running from Oct 18 to Oct 20.
A press release highlighted that the event, renowned for celebrating Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, particularly in textile craft, also provides Sarawak with a valuable platform for cultural exchange and collaboration.
Leading the Sarawak delegation is MTCP minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, accompanied by his wife, Datin Sri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, MTCP deputy minister Datuk Snowdan, and MTCP permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini, alongside other representatives from the ministry and its agencies.
During the festival, Sarawak’s delegation engaged in high-level discussions with Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The discussions focused on potential collaborations in the batik textile sector, an area where both Sarawak and Yogyakarta share deep-rooted cultural traditions.
Batik, integral to the identity of both regions, has long been celebrated as a cultural symbol of indigenous heritage.
“Yogyakarta was awarded as the World’s Batik City in 2014 by the World Craft Council (WCC).
“The special region has preserved its traditional batik-making techniques, which are passed down through generations. This includes the ‘Batik Tulis’ (hand-drawn batik) and ‘Batik Cap’ (stamp batik), both of which require skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail.
“Through collaboration, Sarawak and Yogyakarta have the potential to assist one another in areas such as batik techniques, motif design, and preservation efforts, enhancing the cultural and economic value of this traditional art form,” read the release.
The release further highlighted that Yogyakarta’s status as a UNESCO-recognised center for batik offers Sarawak invaluable opportunities to learn from its heritage preservation practices and the promotion of craft artisans.
“The city’s batik industry stands as a remarkable example of how traditional crafts can not only survive but thrive in the modern economy while retaining their cultural integrity,” it said.
“For Sarawak’s craft industry, this experience offers invaluable lessons. Yogyakarta’s successful approach to supporting artisans, while adapting batik to meet contemporary market demands, presents a model that Sarawak can draw inspiration from. — DayakDaily
