phyBatik: Fractal Batik

The phyBatik implements the computation of fractal geometry into Indonesian traditional batik, in short "fractal batik", as retrieved and digitized by the activities of Sobat Budaya Indonesia Community.

Fractal geometry is a kind of "geometry" with very special symmetry. The repeating and iterative patterns have made the self-similarity shapes on different scales of the fractals. Fractals have shown that roughness are actually regular, as to cosmos (orderlines) is out of chaos (disorderlines).

Batik is a traditional kind of filling the blank space within fabric by wax-resist dyeing. The repeating and iterative patterns by drawing the dots and lines employ a kind of geometry that exploits the roughness within their motifs and harmonization to fill in the blank. Batik drawing has shown how paintings can be delivered from irregular shape and patterns, where cosmos should come from the natural chaos.

phyBatik uses the pseudoalgorithm of Indonesian batik drawings. Artisans capture the dynamics of the drawing elements as simulated in the "Nithik Panel". The basic motifs are then plotted into a design in the "Klowong Panel", where stories are drawn by using the elements drawn from the previous panel. The drawing is in two-dimensional landscapes filling the blank space. Eventually, the design is completed aesthetically by many possible small patterns ("Isen") to fill the blank residue among the basic motifs. A step by step tutorial is available: http://fraktal.bandungfe.net/tutPhyBatik/

This application is made possible by the research in the Bandung Fe Institute, the research center for complexity in Surya University, that previously have been used in many batik workshops held by acroBatik of BFI Technologies The idea is to simulate the generative process of batik without loosing the fundamentals of the geometry employed in the traditional and classical Indonesian batik.

By using this application, you have brought donation for the open digital library of Indonesian Cultural Heritage www.budaya-indonesia.org from which researches on Indonesian traditional culture, including the research phyBatik has been made upon.