THE VISUAL ORNAMENTS OF THE RIFA’IYAH PELO ATI BATIK AS A MODE OF ISLAMIC PROSELYTISM

Aquamila Bulan Prizilla1* and Agus Sachari2
1M. Ds., Telkom University, Indonesia, abulanp@yahoo.com
2Dr., Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia, aasachari@gmail.com
*Corresponding author

Abstract

The batik cloth is an Indonesian cultural heritage with express ties between its designers and its audiences. Depending on its motif and visual ornaments, designers of batik cloths convey unique messages to their audiences. As such, it is appealing to study the implied meanings of the motifs and visual ornaments of classic batik designs.

Among batik visual ornaments laden with philosophical meanings is the Pelo Ati batik of the Rifa’iyahs. The visual ornament incorporates the teachings of Sheikh Ahmad Rifa’i's brand of tasawwuf, wherein man may be considered as virtuous or unvirtuous by his heart.

This study is limited to the Pelo Ati visual ornament of the Rifa’iyah batik. Future studies shall focus on the visual ornaments of other batik cloths. The limit is imposed in order to preserve and socialise the meanings of the visual ornaments of batiks found in the Indonesian Archipelago. In addition, a number of Indonesians are still ill-informed of the implicit messages on batik cloths. This study employs ethnographic methods accompanied by a literature review on the history of the Rifa’iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang, its batik, and its culture. This study also uses in-depth interviews with batik experts, Rifa'iyah Batik experts, and Rifa’iyah religious figures. For a period of time, residence is taken within the Rifa'iyah community in Kalipucang-Batang.


Keywords: batik, meaning, philosophy, Rifa’iyah, Islam



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CITATION: Abstracts & Proceedings of ADVED 2016- 2nd International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences, 10-12 October 2016- Istanbul, Turkey

ISBN: 978-605-64453-8-5