Jumat, 22 Januari 2010

Personal Favourite

This is one of my personal favourite patterns of batik i encounter in Madura. Karjagad, i read it once; derived from two words 'kart' in dutch means 'chart' or map, and jagad , of course rooted in sanskrit that means universe, the two combined into one meaning of the map of the universe. Popularized now as "sekarjagad" or Bunga Semesta" it usually contains two major elements : the first elements are variety of patterns that puzzle-squeezed each other to make random composition ,and the second one is usually garlands or flowery branches that double standing as border between blocks of patterns. And sometimes it appears with third pattern that usually depicting bird-of-paradise or local 'phoenix' pattern. This Karjagad/Sekarjagad particularly different from the neat-and-well-ordered tumpal/tambal pattern in central java (not to be confused with tumpal in sarong). If anyone interesting in its philosophy, this patterns originally didn't intended to carry such concept but decorative pattern, but now it is known as batik for 'great personality & high dignity". On why exactly this particular pattern attracts my attention? i couldn't analyze it, but maybe because i saw something economic yet very beautiful in this 'chaotic and random' composition. In one piece of fabric you'll get almost every basic patterns imaginable, sort of 'tutty-frutty' of batik world, yet it's elegance is undisputed since the ones i like the most are those done with tradition brown 'sogan' , the warm earth tone that evokes simple and dignified world of batik that it once belong.