As the International Year of Batik (IYOB) draws to a close in May 2025, it feels like the right time to pause and reflect on what has been an inspiring and unforgettable journey for the global batik community, and also for me personally.
Being on the Batik Guild Committee for the past five years, I had the honour of being part of the conversation when our Chairperson, Jonathan Evans earlier threw out the (wonderfully crazy) idea of creating a special year-long campaign to celebrate and promote batik worldwide. From concept to celebration, it was a privilege to help shape what became the International Year of Batik, running from May 2024 to May 2025. Planning started well in advance and was a crucible of bold ideas for a series of exhibitions and workshops around the world, creating much-needed awareness and visibility for our craft.
Exhibiting & Teaching During IYOB
As part of the IYOB, I was proud to represent the Batik Guild at several key events. I exhibited work at Rugby Art Gallery in England, and I also hosted two public workshops there to introduce newcomers to the vibrant, wax-and-dye world of batik. It was a joy to see people’s eyes light up as they made their first wax lines on fabric, and a clear reminder that batik still holds the power to effortlessly captivate new audiences.
I also took part in the beautiful Scottish exhibition at Resipole Studios Fine Art Gallery in Argyll, which was another shining example of how the IYOB campaign helped spread the magic of batik throughout the UK and beyond.
Press Recognition of Batik as Fine Art
In March 2024, Selvedge Magazine featured our International Year of Batik (IYOB) campaign in their blog, as part of a broader series celebrating resist-dye techniques. Special thanks to Jonathan, who contributed a thoughtful and beautifully written article highlighting the IYOB campaign and the growing global resurgence of interest in batik.
It was a moment of recognition not only for the campaign and The Batik Guild, but also for all of us independent artists quietly working in studios, classrooms, and community halls, keeping this ancient craft alive while striving to elevate it’s position as a viable fine art medium.
It reminded me that our work and efforts do ripple outward, and sometimes further than we realise.
Looking Forward
While the International Year of Batik may have officially ended, its legacy continues. I’m still running workshops, making new work, and considering ways to share the joy and mystery of this magical art-form with more people. The IYOB showed just how much global appetite there is for batik, and I believe we’re only just beginning to tap into its full potential as a creative and spiritual practice.
The process of batik has an undeniable meditative quality to it, helping the busy mind to steady itself, as it demands deep focus and being present. The rhythm of waxing, dyeing, and layering invites a kind of quiet attentiveness; something many of us are sorely missing in today’s fast-paced world. In that stillness, something deeper often emerges.
“The genuine function of batik is to calm the disquieted soul.”
– Go Tik-Swan, batik scholar
This ancient art-form isn’t just about surface beauty. It’s a way of connecting with ourselves, with tradition, with transformation and with something greater. Which is why I believe it continues to speak to so many, across continents and generations, and will continue to do so.
Links & Further Info
- 📰 Read the Selvedge Blog article on the IYOB by Batik Guild Chairperson Jonathan Evans
- 📖 Explore the Selvedge ‘Irresistible’ Issue 117, celebrating resist-dye techniques
- 🌍 View the International Year of Batik artist directory
- 🧵 Learn more about the Batik Guild and its upcoming exhibitions
A heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in making the International Year of Batik a success, and for helping to secure batik’s rightful place in the world-wide cultural arts conversation. 🎉👏🏻🌍🎨