15/07/2026
Batik inspiration for your summer house |
You might wonder, what is Batik?
Batik is the name of a cloth-dyeing technique that results in intricate patterns like the ones seen on the two textiles in this gallery. The name “batik” is also applied to the fabrics decorated in this way.
To produce a batik cloth, an artist draws a design on the fabric with wax and then immerses it in a dye bath. Because wax resists liquids, the design remains free of the dye. Successive applications of wax and dye continue until the final pattern emerges. It is a time-consuming process as the cloth, usually cotton, needs to be boiled, cleaned, and then treated with various substances that prevent the wax from being absorbed into the cotton’s fibers. Finally, to create a smooth surface for the waxing and dyeing, the cloth is beaten with a wood mallet.
Artwork details |
Abd El Nasser Shiha, Signed, Batik on fabric, 100 x 70 cm
