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Irian, etc. he says that if this were a policy then tourists would be forced to travel more to get the batiks they want + both airlines + hotels would benefit
on the other hand, while Sapto's own batik is made by craftsman in the Jogja area, the designs are definately not local - the designs, very bold + in bright colors, look somewhat Polynesian; I asked Sapto about this + he says he has been influenced by Kalimantan designs, but admitted returning from Hawaii just 4 days ago ((I have heard in the past that Sapto has spent/spends a good deal of time in Hawaii))
- Sapto does employ many village craftsmen + mentioned that at present he has "several hundred" batik makers working for him - he is proud that he provides employment for village people + notes that his teaching activities probably reduce his own income by 10%, but he does it because he enjoys it + thinks its important - I think this is probably true because most of his profits come from batik, not from the small amounts of ceramics and other things he sells
- I was most interested in Saptos methods of teaching - he is very opposed to those who give villagers examples of things from other areas ie Bali to copy, because this changes them from artists to just a paid labor force - he claims that what he does is not really teach but "liberate/open up their thinking" ("membuka fikiranya") - he described one session where he took a local kendi (water jug_ to show the people; he started asking them what it was (answer: "kendi") + how many spouts it had (answer: "one") - he next asked them what they would call it if he added a second spout (answer: "stikk kendi") - "well, then," he told them, "a kendi can be anything you want it to be"