Subagya Art Retreat-Yogyakarta

Experience batik as living heritage — 7 days of creation, culture, and inner transformation

In collaboration with Pas Podjok, this retreat is more than art — it’s a journey into batik, an ancient craft of wax and dye carrying stories of love, resilience, and culture.
Indonesian batik is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage (2009)

What You Will Experience

In seven days you will:

Create batik with your hands — work with wax, dye, and cloth to make your own pieces.
Immerse in daily culture — taste Javanese food, share stories, and join local rituals.
Explore Yogyakarta — discover temples, markets, and nature beyond the studio.
Reflect and reconnect — guided journaling and quiet moments for clarity.
Embrace a natural flow — slow living inspired by batik, community, and the land.

What Makes This Retreat Special

Subagya is not just another art retreat — it is rooted in heritage and transformation:

Learn from master artisan —

Practice side by side with artisans who carry this tradition forward.

Live inside a traditional house—

Surrounded daily by nature, creativity, and art community

Experience art as reflection —

A path to clarity and renewal.

Support cultural continuity —

Your presence helps sustain and honor a craft passed through generations.

What You’ll Take Home

This retreat is designed to stay with you long after it ends. You won’t just return with memories — you’ll carry home:

Your own batik pieces — crafted by hand, alive with color and meaning.
Clarity and renewal — insights discovered through reflection and stillness.
Inspiration from heritage — wisdom carried by artisans and Javanese culture.
New connections — with fellow participants, artisans, and community.
A gentler rhythm — a reminder of slow living to bring into daily life.

Practical Details

Location

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — a city alive with tradition, art, and history.

Dates:

5-12 April 2026 - early interest welcome

Price: USD 1,600 (~CHF)

Includes 7 days / 6 nights accommodation, daily meals, workshops, cultural visits, and community sharing.
Flights are not included.

Deposit USD / CHF 500 (non-refundable) secures your place. Balance due closer to the retreat.

Care & Support

To make your retreat experience effortless, we’ve included:

A dedicated driver and retreat manager — covering all local transport, scheduling, and needs so you can relax.

A cameraman — capturing magical moments so you can stay present while bringing home lasting memories.

Partnership with Pas Podjok — our trusted host in Yogyakarta, managing all hospitality and logistics.

Accommodation & Meals

With the artisans — during workshop days in the village, you’ll be welcomed into artisan homes and served fresh, home-cooked meals.
With Pas Podjok — your home base is a welcoming traditional wooden house within an art space, where a student-run café and communal areas create a lively hub with young artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need experience in batik or art?

No — this retreat is for everyone. Beginners, explorers, and experienced artists are all welcome. Curiosity is the only requirement.

What’s the group size?

We keep the retreat small (max. 5 participants) to ensure a personal, supportive atmosphere.

What should I bring?

Just yourself, comfortable clothing, and an open mind. All batik tools and materials are provided.

What language is the retreat in?

Workshops are guided in English, with local support in Javanese/Indonesian when meeting artisans.

An Invitation

If your heart has been asking for time to breathe, create, and reconnect — this retreat is your space. Seven days with batik, culture, and community can bring the clarity and renewal you’ve been seeking.
Spaces are limited and reserved on a first-come basis.
Secure your place with a USD/CHF 500 non-refundable deposit today. The balance is due closer to the retreat.
- Book April 2026 Retreat

Why I Created This Retreat

This retreat began during my own search for meaning. Batik first came to me in a dream. I carried that dream with me until the moment I finally had space to follow it during my sabbatical — and it led me to Yogyakarta.

I stepped into an artisan’s home and saw a different rhythm of life — slow, deliberate, lived in flow. The repetitive work of batik first frustrated me, then humbled me, then opened me. I realised that letting go of perfection allowed creativity, intuition, and clarity to flow through me.

That experience gave me a new sense of purpose — to create spaces where people can slow down and reconnect, while elevating the artisans whose craft and wisdom deserve to be seen. I want to share that space — and that way of being — with you.