By Chaitali B. Roy

Members of the International Women’s Group were unaware of the visual treat that awaited them at their monthly meeting. As dancers of the Chandana Wickeramasinghe Dancers Guild performed in their dazzling costumes, the group of women from different parts of the world were awestruck.

The meeting of the International Women’s Group was packed with action.  Apart from a fashion show and dance performance there was a batik presentation and demonstration by the noted Batik artist and designer Sonali Dharmawardane at the Radisson Blu Hotel on the morning of May 2. Sonali is in Kuwait as a member of the delegation of Sri Lankan artists for the “Sri Lankan Cultural Week”, which was jointly hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka and Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts & Letters. On Sunday morning Sonali addressed the members of IWG and spoke not only obatik’ her area of work, but also shed light on lifestyles and the role of Sri Lankan Women in society.




Gone are the days when women stayed at home looking after children, carrying out the difficult role of a home maker. Today across the world they are carrying out the bigger responsibility of not only supplementing incomes for their family, but pursuing their own ambitions with passion, breaking out of stereotypical moulds and fighting against odds.

“I am from a culture where women have to take a back seat, but even so our women have done pretty well for themselves,” said the articulate artist from Sri Lanka, a fitting representative of the modern Sri Lankan woman. 

Adesigner and advertising consultant, she broke family conventions when she gave in to her passion for batik and took it up as her calling. A consultant designer for a lingerie manufacturer in Colombo, she recently launched her brand, Acushla, which offers one-of-a kind batik silk sarees and women’s  apparel. “Sri Lankan women are responsible in a big way for our economy.

The Sri Lankan tea, which is world famous is plucked by women, our garments are sewn by women, rubber tapping is done  by women and today Sri Lankan women are also greatly involved in educating themselves. I admire the multitasking that we women do. Despite so much pressure we manage to achieve a lot. A woman can be a mother and a career woman.

A woman can be a provider and comforter. A woman can do so much that the men are in awe of. I am proud of the fact that the world’s first woman Prime Minister and President came from my country,” she said referring to Srimavo Bandaranaike who became the world’s first PM in 1960 and her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga was the world’s first President. 

Sonali who runs her own business employs only women, providing an opportunity to the large number of widows, a sad reminder of the ethnic unrest that plagued the island country for years, to be economically independent. 

“My pet project is with women,” she said.  “Most of the women who work with me are either single mums whose husbands have died in the war or they have been left alone.” Passionately involved with the resurgence of batik, the art which involves the dyeing of cloth through multiple waxing, Sonali came into her own after her marriage  into a family of batik artists.

Heritage

“Batik is a part of our culture and UNESCO has given heritage art status to the Javanese art of batik making.” Her quest to find the origins of batik in Sri Lanka has not been easy. “I don’t know whether it was brought in by the traders or invaders, but I have noticed the use of natural dyes in the robes of monks. I have also traced back to a woman called Soma Udabage, who in recent times tried to develop the tradition of batik making.” She also mentioned her father - inlaw, the renowned Vipula Dharmawardane whose work is featured in the Smithsonian.  “He contributed to making batik a commercial property in Sri Lanka and helped the industry grow.” 

It is women who are more involved in the batik industry of Sri Lanka. “Women have the time and patience for arts. Moreover, men had to search for work that brought in bigger incomes.”

The process by which batik is produced consists of multiple waxing and dyeing of cloth. First, the desired pattern is drawn on a plain piece of material. Molten wax is then applied to those areas of the cloth that are not to be dyed. Next, the material is immersed in the required dye and washed when the colour has set. If more colours are desired, the process of waxing and dyeing has to be repeated. “Batik has been very much a part of Sri Lankan art and craft. However, we notice a clear difference between the regional art of the same craft. Today we see a variation of this same technique with a modern twist,” said the artist. For a country beset by troubles of civil war, the last few months have brought relief, and it is in this period of peace that artists and free thinkers like Sonali and Chandana can dream of bigger things for their homeland.

Some photos from the event

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