Jakarta, October 2022 – Every October 2, Indonesian people celebrate National Batik Day as an appreciation for Batik art, one of the nation's cultural heritages, which is recognized internationally. There are many ways to celebrate batik day, one of which is by learning to paint Batik patterns.

Each region in Indonesia has a variety of Batik patterns according to the characteristics of their respective area, including D.K.I Jakarta. To celebrate Batik Day on Sunday, October 2, 2022, ASTON Priority Simatupang invited guests to learn to paint Batik Betawi patterns using coffee-based dyes, a new approach to reducing waste from chemical dyes.

The Batik Betawi painting is made using dyes from liquefied ground coffee, an ingredient that is easy to find, has economic value, and is environmentally friendly. In fact, inhaling the aroma of coffee while painting can have a calming effect on the body, thereby reducing a person's stress level. Visitors who registered in advance got to try this unique form of painting with materials provided by the hotel, and they also got to bring their creations home.

This activity was guided by Armin, one of the painters from the Indonesian Painters and Art Workers Community (KOPPI) which has a secretariat in the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah Art Village. The Betawi Batik motif chosen in this learning activity was the Ciliwung Condet Batik Motif. This motif has a characteristic in the form of coconut and salak flowers which represent the local wisdom of the Condet area.

“This batik painting represents the voices of the Ciliwung Condet’s residents who are affected by garbage due to the overflowing flood from the Ciliwung river. Through this art, I hope everyone will be proud of the products that tell the story of local wisdom, and the identity of the Condet area will be more widely known” commented Armin, Betawi Batik Painter.

“To celebrate Batik Day, ASTON Priority Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center invited guests to participate in their unique activity; learning how to paint Batik using coffee dye in an effort to reduce chemical dye waste. Coffee is also a safe tool for children to use in painting, and we hope we provided a memorable experience for all our guests,” commented Andi Gevika Rizki, General Manager ASTON Priority Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center.