First Lady: Batik medium to understand national culture

Antara News, Tuesday, November 17, 2009 15:54 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Batik clothes and designs recently proclaimed by UNESCO as Indonesian cultural heritage, can become a medium to understand the national culture, according to the First Lady.

"Understanding batik is part of understanding Indonesia`s culture," said First Lady Ani Yudhoyono when officially opening an exhibition of a batik collection of the late Ann Dunham, US President Barack Obama`s mother, here on Tuesday.

Ann Dunham`s batik collection had earlier been displayed in US cities such as New York, Chicago and Washington DC, said Ani Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by among others Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

Through this expo, one could learn a story of someone who loved batik very much, she said referring to Ann Dunham.

She also recalled that when she was a child, her mother, Mrs. Sarwo Edhie Wibowo, introduced her to various batik designs and how to choose certain designs for certain occasions.

The First Lady said she was proud of her mother and her role in preserving the culture and tradition regarding batik.

A fashion show of batik dresses designed by Agus Susastro, an Indonesian designer who lives in New York, highlighted the exhibition.

The display, dubbed "The Batik Essay, a Collection of Love Stories." is being held on the square of the Grand Indonesia Hotel from November 17 to November 22, 2009.

Maya Soetoro, Obama`s sister born from Ann Dunham`s marriage with an Indonesian, gave an explanation at the exhibition that her American mother had collected batik in her effort to understand Indonesia`s culture. Dunham had told her children that culture was a good way to bridge international relations.

A similar exhibition was previously held in Chicago (May 17-20), and Lost Angeles (June 1-4). And it will be held in Houston (Texas) on July 2-5, New York, July 21-24, and finally Washington D.C. on August 9-23.

Some 20 batik clothes and two batik scarves belonging to Ann Dunham were on display. The batiks are originally from Yogyakarta, Solo (Central Java), Indramayu, Cirebon (West Java), Pekalongan, and Madura (East Java).