Ceylons Batik Art

 The art, though it originated in Indonesia, has found its way to numerous countries over the decades such as India, China, Japan and also Sri Lanka. It is believed that the Dutch brought it with them when they came here. The Industry has evolved over the years offering a good source of income to local craftsmen. Numerous shops sell Batik Wall Hangings, Bed Covers, Pillow Covers, Gents or Ladies wear or even Table Cloths in Kandy and Colombo. You may find a rich blend of religion, local motifs or sometimes wildlife blended in rich colors into the fabric.  

The Batik industry in Sri Lanka is a small scale industry employing individual design talent and creativity. Catering mostly to foreign tourists, galleries and factories, large and small, have sprung up in many tourist areas. As we strolled around one of the famous chains of Stores in Dambulla (Henrys Batiks) the charming Sales girl took us through the entire process of Batik making detailing the raw materials and machinery needed. The Store doubled as a factory all with busy craftsmen with their brushes, huge Dye Vats for washing off the color and Metal vats for boiling the wax on the cloth.

This is carried out by waxing the parts that are to remain without dye, based on the logic that water and wax repel. Though paraffin wax is easy to use, beeswax reduces cracking. Specialist batik wax is a mixture of both waxes.  Brushes made from natural or synthetic fibres are required in the process.  

1.       A 100% pure cotton cloth is washed thoroughly to remove starch, then dried

2.       The required design is traced meticulously on it

3.       The White area is waxed according to the design

4.       The cloth is immersed in the brightest color first e.g. Yellow

5.       The Yellow area is waxed

6.       The cloth is immersed in the 2^nd color e.g. Red

7.       The Red area is waxed

8.       The cloth is immersed in the 3^rd color e.g. Black

9.       The cloth is now boiled to remove the wax and then cleaned and dried

The art though is very expensive a small wall hanging (2feet X 2 feet) may cost you around Rs.20000.