Batik Panel
Purple and white spiral pattern
This Congolese batik textile blends rich indigenous artistry with deep cultural heritage. An ancient wax-resist dying technique is seen in this example to create intricate and colorful patterns on fabric. The term batik can refer to the cloth or design itself. The process involves applying hot liquid wax to specific parts of a textile to block out or “resist” dyes, resulting in a patterned negative when the wax is removed. In Central African culture, batik is also known as kitenge, or pagne.
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In Central Africa and the Congo Basin the spiral design symbolizes the continuous cycles of life death and rebirth human spiritual destiny and the infinite connection between the physical and ancestral worlds. It maps out cosmic energy and the soul's ongoing journey across different planes of existence.
In Kongo cosmology, life does not end with physical death; rather, it transitions to another plane. The word for life (zingu) is etymologically tied to zînga, meaning to roll or form a spire/spiral
Title: Batik Wall Hanging
Date: 2008
Geography: The Democratic Republic of the Congo
Medium: Cotton
Dimensions: H. 69.5 in. W. 46 in.
Provenance: Gift from Pam Butler
Inventory Number: CO.01
