Batik Existed Before Borders – Illustrator Weighs In Amidst Never Ending Origin Debate

His artwork was meant to draw attention to the Palestinian cause, using the batik-inspired flag as a symbol of solidarity.

A recent Twitter post by Malaysian illustrator Arif Rafhan has gone viral, reigniting debates over the origins of batik.

Arif shared a piece of his art depicting the Palestinian flag adorned with a traditional batik motif, which was used during a protest in France in solidarity with Palestinians.

However, the post quickly diverged into a heated conversation on social media regarding the cultural ownership of batik.

Same Debate, Different Day

The most recent batik debate started when American YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed was in town as part of his Southeast Asia tour.

During his visit to Malaysia, he was gifted a piece of Malaysian batik, sparking comments from some fans claiming that batik originated in Indonesia.

In response, IShowSpeed, during a live stream, searched the internet and stated that batik originated from Indonesia, further fueling the ongoing debate.

In the clip, Speed’s tourguide explains that Malaysian Batik differs from its pattern, focusing more on floral motives where Indonesian Batik focuses more on fauna motives.

The discussion surrounding IShowSpeed’s remarks spilled over into Arif Rafhan’s post, with netizens from both Malaysia and Indonesia engaging in a renewed argument over which country can lay claim to batik’s origins.

Some argued that batik is an Indonesian cultural heritage, while others defended Malaysia’s longstanding batik tradition.

Batik Has Existed Before Borders

Amid the growing controversy, Arif sought to clarify his statement, acknowledging that batik is a part of Southeast Asian culture and existed long before national borders were drawn.

He emphasized that the art form belongs to the broader region, transcending modern-day nationalities.

Reflecting on the viral conversation, Arif expressed disappointment that the focus had shifted from his original intent.

His artwork was meant to draw attention to the Palestinian cause, using the batik-inspired flag as a symbol of solidarity.

Arif expresses that the conversation had strayed far from the original message of support for Palestine.

As the debate rages on, Arif Rafhan hopes that the message of unity and solidarity in his art can be remembered, rather than the distractions it inadvertently caused.

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