Creating Batik Motifs from Minangkabau Manuscript Illumination

Abstract

Until now, efforts to apply manuscripts as one of the past products are very limited. Manuscripts conservation and preservation still focus on physical rescue. Meanwhile, illuminations in a manuscript by some philologists themselves are still considered as mere decoration of manuscript. In fact, as one of the products of culture, illumination is a symbol of civilization. This paper explains the effort to create batik motifs from the Minangkabau manuscript illumination. During this research, the illumination was chosen from the Minangkabau manuscript which was considered unique and had certain characteristics. This article presents a transformation of the manuscript illumination found at Surau Mato Aie which is considered as the longest manuscript in West Sumatra. Through the steps of selection, layout, and design, the illumination then transformed into a batik motif. As a result, the batik motif can be applied as an effort to develop a creative industry based on local knowledge.