This hand-drawn textile art draws inspiration from the fertile lands of tropical Java. Designs feature an abundance of local fruits, nuts, vines, medicinal plants, abstracted butterflies, birds and sea creatures. The designs demonstrate the artists’ intimate botanical knowledge and deep connection with their country.

The motifs are also rich in spiritual meaning, carrying lessons, ideals, hopes and prayers, steeped in Sufi-mysticism and ancient Javanese thought. The many Sufi-inspired designs featured in this collection are only known and practiced by only a handful of women who live in a rural village in Batang on the north coast of central Java. The hand drawn batik production of these ancient designs is increasingly rare due to shifting social, religious and cultural influences, as well as economic pressures.

Those who carry on the tradition see it not only as a creative outlet, but also a way to practice spiritual values and virtues such as patience, resilience and mindfulness.

Each creation takes inspiration from the natural world to convey messages about the nature of life. Batik Rifa'iyah also reflects the spirit of the batik artist and her inner world. The breathtaking skill, dexterity, patience and perseverance required to produce batik means that the finished piece is a tribute to the inner qualities and beauty of its creator.