Artist
Ibu Nur Wakhidah
Born 2001, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Nur Wakhidah (Mbak Wakhidah) is one of the youngest active practitioners of batik Rifa’iyah in her community. She learned from the age of ten, guided by her mother and older sister, with whom she continues to work. She is drawn to the creative variety of batik tulis, and favours less common blue and violet colour combinations, in addition to the vibrant reds, greens and rich earthy tones more characteristic of the Rifa’iyah tradition.
Artist
Ibu Nur Mauidhoh
Born 1988, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Nur Mauidhoh (Ibu Idhoh) has been creating batik since the age of thirteen, learning the artform as a tradition passed down through the generations. She is drawn to complex, detailed and fluid motifs that leave room for creative freedom and innovation — materos and relawati with intricate fills among her favourites. A mother of three, Ibu Idhoh creates batik because it brings her a deep sense of accomplishment, self-worth and contentment.
Artist
Ibu Mustofiyah
Born 1994, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Mustofiyah learned to batik after finishing elementary school, and the practice has become both a livelihood and a creative outlet as a young mother of three. She loves to batik — with the canting she feels free and creative, as if painting. Her work is characterised by precision, confidence and a striking command of colour.
Artist
Ibu Hidayat
Born 1976, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Hidayat learned the art of batik tulis from her mother, beginning at the age of ten as a tradition passed down through the generations of her family. For Ibu Hidayat, batik is not simply a craft but a matter of identity: a living connection to custom, community and the spiritual practice of the Rifa’iyah. She is drawn to motifs inspired by the unfurling of nature, with lancuran (rooster tail feathers) and materos (interconnected vines) among her favourites.
Artist
Ibu Nuridah
Born 1953, Batang, Indonesia
Learning batik as a young child, Ibu Nuridah has been practicing for more than 60 years. She loves creating batik, including free-form relawati motifs and the complex and intricate satria/materos styles.
Artist
Ibu Nasiatun
Born 1970, Batang, Indonesia
Born in Batang, Ibu Nasiatun — known to all as Ibu Atun — began making batik at the age of twelve, continuing a tradition passed down from her mother. She is renowned for her mastery across a wide range of designs, including the prestigious tiga negeri works for which she is particularly celebrated: tambal, gemblong sairis and kotak kitir, as well as a rich variety of relawati motifs. She favours bold, confident colour combinations that reflect her character — Ibu Atun is known for her wide smile which, like her batik, leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets.
Artist
Ibu Mas Ulafah
Born 1981, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Mas Ulafah (Ibu Uul) has practised batik tulis since the age of twelve — beginning simply by watching others before taking hold of the canting herself and never looking back. She learned from her great-aunt and other relatives, and has since mastered most forms of Rifa'iyah motif, including classic two-colour relawati combinations and the intensive three-stage tiga negeri process.
Artist
Ibu Juriyah
Born Batang, Indonesia
Growing up in Batang, Ibu Juriyah has practiced batik since she was a young girl, when she learned the traditional techniques from her mother and older sisters. Today Lek Juriyah is an accomplished batik producer, proud mother of twelve and grandmother of many. She has passed on her batik skills to her children, including the celebrated Rifa’iyah producer, Ibu Maisaroh, also featured in this collection.
Artist
Ibu Maisaroh
Born 1990, Batang, Indonesia
Ibu Maisaroh learned batik tulis from her mother, Ibu Juriyah — herself a celebrated Rifa’iyah artist — and had mastered the artform by the age of fifteen. Batik is her consuming passion: she dedicates the greater part of her life to her practice. Her works consistently push beyond the expected, offering something at the next level of intricacy, inventiveness and spiritual depth. For this reason, they are highly sought after.
Artist
Ibu Istikomah
Born 1971, Batang, Indonesia
bu Istikomah is an accomplished batik artist and batik trader. At present she makes batik nyambi (part-time) when she is not busy selling chicken and running the household.
artist
Ibu Yuliana
Born 1985, Batang, Indonesia
Yuliana has been practicing batik production for almost three decades. She learned the artform from her mother at the age of 13, as a tradition based down through the generations (turun-temurun). For Yuliana, creating batik is a pastime and a way to relax, meditate and unwind from everyday life. She continues her batik practice today and her husband loves to wear her stunning works.