Brilliant! That is the word that first comes to mind when looking design that resembles the shape of clouds in the sky. But then, after I have often noticed this motif, there arises a sense of awe in my mind. His motives are impressed abstract, it’s very beautiful and good-looking. In addition, it turns out this motif has a value of history, art plus philosophy are very high.
Batik motif is well-known by the name Megamendung. It’s a work art of batik, that is identical and still become an icon of batik originated Cirebon district. Batik motif has a characteristic value of which does not exist in other regions of batik producers. In fact, because only in Cirebon and is a work of art, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of RI has authorized Megamendung pattern to UNESCO for recognition as the world heritage.
Megamendung pattern as the basic motif of batik is popular to foreign countries. As proof of his fame, never made Megamendung pattern batik cover of a book published abroad, entitled “Batik Design”, the work of a Dutch named Pepin van Roojen.
The exclusivity Megamendung pattern not only in the form of an image motif resembles a cloud with the colors of assertive, but also the values of the philosophy contained in his motives. It’s closely related to the overall history of the birth of batik in Cirebon.
The history of the emergence Megamendung design is based on books and literature that there is always leads to the history of the arrival of the Chinese into the region of Cirebon. This is not something surprising because the port Muara Jati in Cirebon is a stopover arrivals from home and abroad. Obviously recorded in history, that Sunan Gunung Jati who spread Islam in Cirebon area in the sixteenth century, married the Queen Ong Tien of China. It appears from a few of the art objects brought from China such as ceramics, plates and cloth decorated with cloud forms.
Batik Megamendung
The history of batik in Cirebon is also closely linked with the development of the congregation said movement based in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Batik was originally done by members of the congregation who served in the palace as an economic resource to finance the order’s group. The adherents of the worshippers lived in the village and surrounding Trusmi. The village is located approximately 4 km from Cirebon towards the west or toward Bandung. Therefore, until now batik Cirebon synonymous with batik Trusmi.
Megamendung pattern that was originally always characterized blue color red color interspersed describes masculinity and dynamic atmosphere, because in the process of making the intervention of man. The male member that was originally pioneered tarekat tradition. Blue and deep red color also describes the psychology of coastal communities straightforward, open and egalitarian.
In addition, the color blue is also touted the color symbolizes the sky is vast, friendly and tranquil and symbolizes the carrier rain-awaited as the bearer of fertility and life-giving. Blue colors are used ranging from light blue to dark blue. Describe the increasingly bright light blue and dark blue depict the life of the dark clouds that contain rain water and give life.
During its development, Megamendung pattern undergone many developments and modified according to market demand. Often we meet, Megamendung pattern combined with animal motifs, flowers or other motifs. Indeed the incorporation of this motif as already done by the traditional batik in the past, but development into a very rapidly with the intervention of the fashion designer.
Being Megamendung pattern previously recognized only in the form of baju batik (Indonesian), can now be found in a variety of forms of goods. There is a glass wall hangings, paintings, interior products such as wood carving products and household appliances such as pillowcases, bajubatik, sheets, kaos batik (Indonesian), tablecloths and others.