Riyadh: At the Indonesian pavilion during the Saudi International Handicrafts Week 'Banan,' organized by the Heritage Commission, Indonesian researcher and lecturer Feni shared her extensive experience in batik and textile arts. The researcher described her participation as a journey to build a bridge between Indonesian culture and Saudi artisans, noting that she has visited over 100 countries to share knowledge on batik making and the use of modern looms.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Feni emphasized that her visit is not merely to display products but to provide practical expertise that Saudi artisans can adopt and develop. She highlighted her previous participation in Banan, saying, 'Last year, the Indonesian delegation showcased Indonesian batik, which is recognized by UNESCO as an element of intangible cultural heritage.'
She noted the craft's difficulty and the long time it requires, explaining that a single piece of traditional batik can take up to ten months to complete due to the use of very specialized tools, with every step done entirely by hand. She referred to one of the techniques presented specifically at Banan, the copper stamp printing method, explaining that the copper stamp is used to create batik identical to traditional Indonesian batik. The design is stamped onto the fabric and then dyed, allowing Saudi artisans to produce similar batik using this technique, Feni said.