Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations of Art and Entrepreneurship

Nyonya Oeij Soen King (1871–1950), a master of natural dyes who innovated within established styles

Nyonya Oeij Soen King was one of several women who fronted batik businesses in Pekalongan in the 1890s, just as it was emerging as Java’s leading batik-making centre. In an increasingly competitive industry shaken up by the introduction of block-printed batiks, Nyonya Oeij was a creative entrepreneur who produced finely drawn batiks in a totally individualistic style. She worked out of her home workshop for about 25 years, until 1925.

Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing (1895–1966), a master of colour who reimagined batik in unconventional hues

The story continues with Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, who was running the family workshop by 1929. During this period, fast-dyeing European synthetic dyes expanded the range of tones, leading to a surge in production and creative experimentation. Rising demand for fashionable batik sarongs and kebayas, as well as loosening social restrictions on women, led to the widespread commercialisation of the batik industry. Notably, she was the only Indonesian artist who signed and stamped her batiks with dates, suggesting that she considered batik to be an important art form.

Jane Hendromartono (1924–1988), an artist of many names who adapted to challenging social conditions

Jane Hendromartono was the third generation of the Oeij family, one of six siblings who continued her mother’s legacy. She displayed a remarkable knack for responding to market forces: in the 1950s, she created innovative interpretations of the batiks in the viral Kudus style. She was quick to respond to the national Batik Indonesia style, producing modern batiks for fairs and official events, which found ready buyers among the elite. In the 1970s she moved into the realm of high fashion, collaborating with top fashion designers to develop Indonesian haute couture.

In-gallery Discovery Corners

Learn about the process of batik making through three hands-on activity stations in the special exhibition. Engage with tactile interactives, listen to child-friendly audio clips, and create your own batik-inspired artwork with tracing and stamping activities. Don’t forget to pick up our activity trail booklet, A Tale of Three Nyonyas, and collect pencil rubbings along the way!

Batik Revealed: What’s Your Batik Style? Mobile Quiz

Take a quiz to discover your batik style as you explore the Batik Nyonyas exhibition. Uncover a surprise at The Batik Shop. Then, redeem a souvenir featuring a unique batik-inspired illustration by Singapore-based artists Beeteal, Hello Jayne, or Starvingfish!

Access the mobile quiz here.

A Tale of Three Nyonyas: Activity Trail Booklet

Explore the exhibition with our activity trail booklet, A Tale of Three Nyonyas. Follow the story of three remarkable nyonyas and their extraordinary batik business in Pekalongan, Java, as their story unfolds through the pages.

Suitable for ages 7 and up.

The Batik Shop

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a 1970s-inspired batik shop, where you can interact with the displays, discover fun facts, and select tunes to play on a cassette player while relaxing on a batik stack. Take the Batik Revealed mobile quiz to discover your batik style, and keep your eyes peeled for a surprise reveal! Don’t forget to pose for photos and tag us @peranakanmuseum.

About the space
For CHUNKIE’s art director Mayle Kor, designing this space was a personal journey, inspired by memories from childhood. He recalls climbing among stacks of batik in his family’s shop, eagerly waiting for his father to close for the day.

The Batik Shop reflects these cherished memories and captures everyday life in the 1970s. Every corner is filled with personal stories, inviting visitors to experience the warmth, textures, sounds, and details that bring the past to life.

About the artist
CHUNKIE is a multidisciplinary production house fuelled by creativity and craftsmanship. Their work spans various mediums, from multi-sensory immersive experiences to groundbreaking multimedia films.

Batik Nyonyas: Curator Tours

Join curators Naomi Wang and Darryl Lim in an exclusive after hours tour of the Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations of Art and Entrepreneurship special exhibition. Discover fascinating stories about the objects on display and get behind-the-scenes insights into the curation process.

Register for 13 Nov's tour here. 

Batik Stories: Community Voices with the Peranakan Indians

Celebrate batik with the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) community in this edition of Community Voices! Enjoy a weekend of hands-on activities, community-led tours, and vibrant cultural performances that showcase the rich tapestry of batik.

Presented in partnership with the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association of Singapore.

Stay tuned here.

Batik Nyonyas Weekend Festival

Dive into the art of batik with a weekend of family-friendly activities! Dance and sing along to traditional music, try batik crafts, and listen to enchanting folktales inspired by the exhibition.

Stay tuned here.

Batik Nyonyas Talks

Stay tuned for a series of exciting exhibition-related talks. Connect with us on peatix, or check out our website for updates.

Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations of Art and Entrepreneurship – Nyonya Oeij Soen King, Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, Jane Hendromartono

Peter Lee, Naomi Wang, Barbara Watson Andaya, Seng Guo-Quan, Didi Kwartanada, Lynn Chua, Miki Komatsu, Darryl Lim

Family, art, and entrepreneurship converge in the story of three visionary Peranakan women from Indonesia – Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and her granddaughter Jane Hendromartono. From the 1890s to the 1980s, they produced impressive batiks in the renowned batik centre of Pekalongan on Java’s north coast.

Their lives and works reveal how each woman became a batik master in her own right, and how they ingeniously responded to the rapid political, cultural, and economic changes of their times to run a business that produced great art.