ART REVIEW
The continuous evolution of the
Modern BATIK Technique
Introduction At this pivotal period in the evolution of the One year after David’s arrival, his older brother
Modern Batik style, we would be amiss in Henry Lutalo Lumu, joined David. While in
A
s an enthusiast of the Modern Batik ignoring the works of two talented Ugandan Kenya, Henry developed new techniques that
style, we are inviting you on an artists, brothers Henry Lutalo Lumu and David would revolutionize the art of batik painting.
historical journey in art, that visits Kibuuka, whose extraordinary innovations and Using the same traditional materials of water-
the past, pauses in the present, and continues refi nements would truly revolutionize batik based dyes, wax and fabric that were used in
long into the future. On this voyage, you’re art in East Africa and take it to a higher level. the traditional Indonesian batik, Henry applied
going to discover how, over millenniums, a These innovations provided the art community the colors in reverse order, starting with darker
simple traditional art craft has evolved into unique techniques which would open up hues and ending with light. Also, importantly,
an art form embraced by respected artists and endless possibilities for their individual artistic instead of using dyes in full strength by mereLY
collectors around the world. expression. dipping the fabric in them, he controlled the
The freedom and immediacy of working with gradual dilution of the same dyes and applied
David Kibuuka
wax and dyes on fabric is similar to that of them to the fabric using paintbrushes. This
David had been painting from an early age in
watercolour painting or acrylic painting. Batik revolutionary approach allowed Henry to create
Uganda. His talents became quickly apparent
is an ancient craft and the effect that can be detailed, refi ned images with dramatically
at the age of 11 as he was able to sell his
achieved through resist dyeing often results in enhanced tonality, shading and depth.
paintings professionally in art galleries, such
amazing unpredictable texture and tones. David Kibuuka, working closely with his
as Nomo Gallery. At the time, David’s strength
Batik designs can be as complicated or simple brother, introduced an additional technique
was pencil drawing and water color. His fi rst
as the artist’s desires. They can be realistic and to this medium called ‘fragmentation.’ This
introduction to batik was from his secondary
pictorial or purely expressive (abstract). modifi cation added increasing background
school art teacher, Joseph Mungaya, who
The main goal, when working with modern depth, broadness and a richer palette of
worked in the traditional batik style. This was
batik art, is to enjoy the medium and allow colours to the batik art painting, allowing this
the fi rst time David would see art being created
the versatility of wax and dyes to reveal itself novel fi ne art medium to yield control, detail
on fabric with the use of wax and dyes.
gradually to you on fabric (cotton). and richness comparable to oil, acrylic and
watercolour painting. These modifi cations
Brief History As Mr. Mungaya fi nished a series of batiks he
have given Modern Batik Art extraordinary
Although experts disagree as to the precise was obligated to send them to Nairobi, Kenya
fl exibility.
origins of batik, samples of dye resistance to be sold to local tourists. This practice was
patterns on cloth can be traced back thousands becoming more and more necessary, for by
David Kibuuka’s conclusion of the rapid
of years ago to Egypt and the Middle East. now, Idi Amin had seriously disrupted the
development and acceleration of the modern
Samples have also been found in Turkey, normal lifestyle of the average Ugandan. The
batik technique during the Kenyan (Nairobi)
India, China, Japan and West Africa from past citizenry’s future was becoming progressively
era was brought up by these factors.
centuries. Although in these countries, people bleaker. So critical was the situation, David,
a. Because the gallery art dealers and tourist
were using the technique of dye resisting the youngest of 11 children and in his teens
curio art dealers control all the outlets,
decoration, within the textile realm, none had decided to leave Uganda to live in Nairobi.
they pay very little money for the batiks,
developed the batik art form up to the 1960’s Just one year after being introduced to batik
thus forcing artists to produce batiks in
as the highly developed intricate batik found art he was now in a foreign country caring for
huge numbers in order for them to make
on the island of Java in Indonesia. himself by the only means he knew how, by
a living. Usually, the numbers were from
selling his batiks. This would be his sole source
Batik Arrives in Uganda, East Africa in the 80 to 300 batiks a month.
of support, right through the completion of his
1960’s b. A number of Ugandan and Kenyan
art college education.
Throughout history, drama and intrigue artists who were involved in supplying
David’s artistic range included his exquisite
permeated the world of art, playing a major tourist batik market produced intense
pencil drawings, water colors. It wasn’t his
role in the development of some of the most competition among artists that different
wonderful pencil sketches neither his beautiful
extraordinary breakthrough in artist expression. style and technique began to emerge.
water colors that would alter his life’s journey
A prime example of this is the Renaissance There were three batik categories, a)
as dramatically as the traditional batik did.
period. Without exception, the evolving of Super realistic batiks, b) Semi-abstract
Modern Batik Art would be instrumental in
Modern Batik style was accelerated in the batiks, Traditional batiks. And from all
bringing his work to the attention of art lovers
1970’s from its entry into East Africa in the this emerged fragmentation and toning
and collectors internationally.
early 60’s. At the height of the regime of (Modern Batik Art) which is still evolving
Ugandan’s dictator Idi Amin, many of the best Nairobi, Kenya to this present day.
known and respected members of the Ugandan At this juncture of our journey it would be
art community moved to Nairobi, Kenya. They advantageous for us to stop and refl ect on Other notable Ugandan and Kenyan batik
craved to work in more peaceful surroundings. how the Modern Batik style was dramatically artists during the 80’s were,Wasswa, Senkoto,
Once settled, batiks became their main source altered over a period of 13 years. This period Mutyaba, Sekanwagi, Lukenze, Mugalula,
of income. Their works provided tourists with spans the time of David’s arrival in Kenya in Mungaya, Lubega, Nyanzi and Gogo,who all
meaningful mementos of their adventurous 1977 until his graduation from Ontario College contributed to the expansion of Modern Batik
trip to East Africa. of Art and Design in Canada in 1988. Art. P
www.thepromota.co.uk THEPROMOTA | 47
ppromotamagazine_issue12.indd isabelle corrected.indd 47romotamagazine_issue12.indd isabelle corrected.indd 47 330/11/2007 21:50:420/11/2007 21:50:42
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60