Tatang and Leksa Ganesha Batik Tembi

Art is a beauty that is able to evoke feelings for both the creator and the viewer. Likewise, what was done by Tatang Elmy Wibowo, a resident of Tembi RT 04 Timbulharjo Village, Sewon District, Bantul Regency.

In his humble home, every day he makes a Batik work to voice his inner turmoil.

Starting from a work that tells about the preparedness of the community in facing disasters to a work, specifically, made to promote forest and environmental sustainability.

Like the themed batik paintings, Jogja ora didol, Jakarta Reclamation, Lestari Kendeng, Javanese Tiger, Anti-Nuclear Campaign, Mining Pits and Social Relations for Disasters.
“I use Batik as a medium to convey preparedness or protect something, such as Javan tigers, preserving forests or preserving the environment,” said Tatang, when met at his gallery, on Jalan Parangtritis Km 8.5, Tembi, Sewon, Bantul, Friday (15/3 / 2019)

Tatang started to engage in the art of batik painting from 2011, before that he was active in WALHI, an independent organization engaged in environmental sustainability.

His activeness at Walhi actually gives a lot of touch to each of his works. It is proven that a number of Tatang’s works contain social messages.

According to Tatang, the message of preserving nature in a work is very important because Indonesia is a country rich in natural resources. So naturally, the current generation looks after it. To then be passed on to posterity.
“I’m not too grandiose. Actually I just want to teach the public to know that this message is useful. The hope is that many people will be concerned and care about the issues I convey,” he explained.

European foreigners are interested

Tatang never thought that, as time went on, his realist-painted batik works were in great demand by the European market. The reason is because Tatang’s works are considered more natural and expressionist.

In fact, he admitted that many foreigners from Europe and Russia who deliberately came to his gallery just to learn how to produce this semi-abstract work.

“They come here, want to study. Some are for one month. Some even have a year,” said the Skill School graduate at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center [ADPC] in Thailand.