Catik’s cushion covers are made from fabric that has been hand-batiked in Java and features a batik design that has influenced much of Catik’s artwork over the last 20 years – a centuries old batik motif known as ‘Mega Mending’ which translates as ‘rain cloud’.
The Mega Mendung motif is a dominant theme in Cirebon batik. History tells of how this design came to Java when the then ruler of the time, Sunan Gunungjati, married Queen Ong Tien from China. Queen Ong Tien was a collector of fine art and brought with her from China her collection of artworks, including a vast collection of decorated ceramics on which the mega mendung motif is widely seen.
According to Chinese mythology, the Nymph Goddess of Love revealed her presence through rain clouds (mega mendung) during the day and through rain mists during the night. The Goddess of Love is therefore implied where the Mega Mendung pattern is seen.
