New Zealand expresses its condolences at loss of Indonesian cultural icon

Mr Tirta with NZ Embassy staff taken shortly before his death

One of Indonesia’s leading batik designers, Iwan Tirta, who died recently, helped to put batik on the world stage as an Indonesian cultural icon, says New Zealand Ambassador David Taylor.

Before he died Mr Tirta had recently agreed to work with the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta, on a special batik project, saysTaylor.
“His death is a huge loss for fans of his works. New Zealand expresses its condolences to the people of Indonesia for the loss of such a taonga (sacred treasure).”

A Yale-educated lawyer, Mr Tirta pursued his love of traditional batik in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming the country's leading authority on the traditional Javanese fabric. He had designed for visiting dignitaries, as well as for leaders at the 1994 APEC summit.