YAG Workshop, Saturday 20 July 2013

Today the Youth Advisors worked with Seiwa Cunningham again to produce their own batik artwork. These pieces were inspired by Dutch Wax, the type of fabric used by Yinka Shonibare in his artwork, including Nelson's Ship in a Bottle.

The Youth Advisors with Nelson's Ship in a Bottle earlier this year

About Dutch Wax:

 

200 years ago, the Dutch were struggling with their textiles industry and decided to mechanically produce Batik fabrics they had seen made in Indonesia, which they had colonised. The process of batik uses wax to create a design before the fabric is dyed and everywhere the wax sits, the dye doesn’t seep in. Batik is a slow, hand done process and the fabrics would be worn to ceremonies. The mechanical process the Dutch used to recreate the batik fabrics were not popular, and the Indonesians did not want to buy them. Left with a lot of unwanted fabric, the Dutch sold them to the Ghanaian police the Dutch had employed to work in Indonesia. When the soldiers returned home to Ghana, the fabrics were very popular, particularly the crackled effects, caused by a fault in the manufacturing. The fabric became a success in West Africa and the Dutch made fabrics to fit in with local traditions and stories. Today we recognise Dutch Wax as being African, popular in Ghana and Nigeria, but it has a long history in trade with Asia, Europe and Africa. The fabrics are still produces in the Netherlands and Africa and are worn today for commemorative wear as well as everyday

In the workshop, Seiwa showed us examples of Dutch Wax fabric...

Rachel and Adrian

Bethanie, Tina, Jennifer and Davina

 

After looking through examples, Seiwa showed us how the fabric is work and used today (including her dress!)

 

 

The Youth Advisors then chose patterns they would like to make in a wax resist technique. This would involve painting wax onto the fabric and dipping it in dyes to layer up colours.

 



Yasmine choosing her design

 

 

The Youth Advisors painted onto their fabric with hot batik wax then dipped it into dye

 

 

Whilst the dye was seeping into the fabric, the Youth Advisors thought more about their designs with a painted version

 

 

 

 

 

 



Fatim and Jennifer dying their fabric

Frances painting on the next layer of batik wax

 

Peeling and ironing off wax to reveal the final design!

 

Next time we will practice these techniques to see what we want to teach in the summer holidays