CRAFTS OF INDIA / BATIK / REGIONS

The revival of batik in India began in the 20th century when it was introduced as a subject at the famous University of Shantiniketan in Kolkata. In the south, near Chennai, the well-known artist's village of Chola-Mandal is where batik gets an artistic touch. Batik that is produced in Chennai is known for its original and vibrant designs. 

1.Gujarat: Block and Hand Batik, 2.Rajasthan: Block and Hand Batik, 3.Kolkata, 4.Andhra Pradesh: Kalamkari Batik, 5.Maharashtra, 6.Madhya Pradesh

Batik printing can be done anywhere but each area and region has its own specialty in designs and colors.

In present times batik printing is not associated with any particular caste or community. Earlier, in Gujarat though only Khatri caste was involved in the craft but now people have taken batik printing as a source of livelihood like any other skill.

In one form or another, batik has worldwide popularity. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in (particularly) Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Philippines,Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore. Now, not only is batik used as a material to clothe the human body, its uses also include furnishing fabrics, heavy canvas wall hangings, tablecloths and household accessories. Batik techniques are used by famous artists to create batik paintings, which grace many homes and offices.

Depending on the quality of the art work, craftsmanship, and fabric quality, batik can be priced from several dollars (for fake poor quality batik) to several thousand dollars (for the finest batik tulis halus which probably took several months to make). Batik tulis has both sides of the cloth ornamented.

Contemporary batik, while owing much to the past, is markedly different from the more traditional and formal styles. For example, the artist may use etching, discharge dyeing, stencils, different tools for waxing and dyeing, or wax recipes with different resist values. They may work with silk, cotton, wool, leather, paper, or even wood and ceramics.