Indonesian batik documented in “iWareBatik” digital application

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Documents about Indonesian batik are now stored in a digital application called iWareBatik, which was launched on the anniversary of the 75th Indonesian Independence Day on Monday (Aug 17).

The application made by an Indonesian student at Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) Switzerland, Puspita Ayu Permatasari, is a collaboration with UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), according to a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received by Indonesia Window here on Tuesday, citing the Indonesian Embassy in Bern.

“Through this application, we hope not only do people wear batik but also aware the meaning of the batik they are wearing,” Puspita said.

iWareBatik which can be accessed through iwarebatik.org and a smartphone application is a digital batik archive for identifying batik textiles, philosophical values ​​behind the motifs, place of origin and other information related to batik.

iWareBatik contains more than 100 documented batik motifs, and will continue to be enriched with other patterns.

The application is also equipped with artificial intelligence technology that allows users to find out batik motifs by taking photos of the batik cloths.

So far, the application can identify several Indonesian batik motifs, among others peacock, cleaver, and flowers.

“Hopefully, people who visit Indonesia, for example to South Kalimantan, or Maluku, or any province, can find out typical batik motifs of each area, before deciding to buy batik fabrics for souvenirs,” said Puspita, who is now pursuing the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism as the focus of her doctoral degree at USI.

During the development of the application, Puspita and the USI team consulted with the Indonesian Embassy in Bern.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland Muliaman D. Hadad said, “The idea to digitize batik documents can be in line with the increasing number of tourists who will come to Indonesia to buy and wear batik”.

Therefore, materials about Indonesian tourism is included in the application.

Indonesian batik was designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the World on September 30, 2009, and October 2 was designated as the National Batik Day.

Reporting by Indonesia Window