THE UNIQUENESS OF SURABAYA'S VISUAL
ART
Visual Art 1
By Marcella 6A, Aldo 6B, Michelle 6B, and Kevin Jett 6C
INTRODUCTION
On Friday, we went outing and visited 2 places which is
Balai Pemuda and Surabaya gift shop Gae Koen Thok.
Finally we categorized Surabaya visual art into
Logos
Clothes
Paintings
Handcrafts
Statues
LOGOS
One of visual art type is logo. Basically the logo is used
to mark identity of organizations, schools, companies, and
government. Mostly the logos we found in Surabaya use
icons Sura and Baya (shark and crocodile) and Tugu
Pahlawan monument. These make them unique because
logos are always persistent that they always think that
when there is Tugu Pahlawan it is always in Surabaya.
That what makes them unique.
MR. M SOCHIEB
One of the greatest painter in Surabaya is Mr. M.
Sochieb. The themes of his paintings are unique
because he showed the spirit of Surabaya citizen
against the Dutch colonialist during the war on 10
November 1945. In 1965 he started his exhibition.
Every time he has an exhibition, he starts it on 10
November. No one exactly know his reason.
This painting describes
when Surabaya’s youth
climbed Yamato hotel ( now
Majapahit Hotel) to rip the
part of Dutch flag which is
blue color.
This painting shows that
Mr. Sochieb wanted to tell
that war without strategy is
a waste can cause death
without meaning. We are
aware of his own strength.
Enemy ambush, seized the
fortress.
In this painting Mr. Sochieb
wanted to tell that the war
has cost human values ,
destruction, misery and
death. Although all gone in
waste however, for the right
of free land, there are still
requirements without
sacrifice, namely: "The Way
of Peace"
CLOTHES
Kinds of clothes in Surabaya’s visual art are Udeng , Modern T-
Shirt, and kebaya (traditional dress)
T-SHIRT (MODERN) This is a sample of modern T-
Shirt that we found in Gae Koen
Thok. The design uses cartoon
that represents the ingredients
of ‘rujak cingur’ which is a
traditional salad originally from
Surabaya. It makes this t-shirt
unique because all of the
ingredients are drawn in cartoon
and they add smiley faces in
each of the cartoon they draw.
Adding wording also important.
UDENG (TRADITIONAL)
This unique hat from surabaya is called ‘ Udeng’ and originally design from Surabaya. It shows Surabaya’s identity because of the color, design, and motif. The characteristics : • It has the typical triangle behind the
hat which make it unique and different from other traditional hats such as Jogjakarta and Surakarta’s hats.
• It uses one type of color• In formal ceremonies which held by
Surabaya’s government, ‘Udeng’ is worn.
KEBAYAThis is a traditional cloth for
Surabaya’s girl. It is simple, just
sarong Batik (bottom) with Kebaya
(top). The top they wear is made of
colorful cotton fabric and
decorated by handmade lace. The
batik motif is taken from original
Surabaya’s motif such as
‘Sawunggaling motif’ (roaster) and
little bit influenced by Madura’s
batik which has flowers and birds
motifs. This is unique because of
the handmade lace that is for the
girls top and the batik motif that
has been influenced by Madura’s
batik.
KEY CHAINSThese key chains are souvenirs to
promote Surabaya which use many
kinds of Surabaya’s symbols and
historical events, such as
‘Semanggi’ leaves, old Surabaya’s
logo, and the speech of Bung Tomo
(one of Surabaya’s hero). These are
unique because can make people
remember the importance of
historical building, events, and
symbols.
SOUVENIRS (MODERN) This is a sample of souvenirs
that is useful to promote
Surabaya. It is a glass that
uses glass that can broke
easily. It uses many motifs
like Suro and Boyo symbol to
promote Surabaya. People
usually buy it to remember
their trip to Surabaya. This
is unique because this glass
use Suro and Boyo symbol
but instead of the real one
they modified into their own
logo.
WOOD HANDCRAFT
This is one of the famous Wood
handcraft in Surabaya. This
wood handcraft started to be
famous around 1.5 years ago.
This craft even has influence
Jogja craft. This is unique
because it shows about
Surabaya’s citizens daily
activities and it shows their
clothes.
TUGU PAHLAWANTugu pahlawan is another famous
monumental statue that represents
historical of Surabaya which allows
people to remember how the youth
of Surabaya defended their city
from Dutch attack on 10th
November 1945. Recently this
Surabaya’s icon is used for batik
motif. It is another statue that
defines Surabaya after The Suro
and Boyo statue. People usually
went to Tugu Pahlawan Monument
Surabaya to know more about
Surabaya ‘s history in the past.
JALESVEVA_JAYAMAHE
We can find this Jaleveva Jayamahe
monument in the port of Tanjung
Perak Surabaya. Monument of
Jalesveva Jayamahe taken away from
TNI AL motto that means, "In the sea
we are glorious” that symbolizes the
power of Indonesia’s maritime army
that protect the ocean territory of
Indonesia. The other meaning of this
statue figure is as the readiness
symbol to receive the devotion one to
another generation. This monument
is a statue as high as 30,6 meters,
which sustained by a building as high
as 30 meters, designed by Nyoman
Nuarta, the famous artists from Bali.
That is why this statue is unique.
SURO DAN BOYO
This is a very famous statue
that defines Surabaya. Based
on the information, this symbol
has been changed 3 times up to
now. Is is made from brink, rock
and cement. You can find this
near the zoo in Surabaya.
People usually take pictures
and directly went to the zoo if it
is holiday. This statue is
unique because it make people
remember the Surabaya’s
legend.
JOKO DOLOGA STATUE INFORM OF BUDDHA FROM 13TH
CENTURY.
Joko Dolog is a buddhist statue
built in the year 1289 to honor the
funeral of King Kertanegara. It is
believed to be carried to Surabaya
300 years ago. In front of the
statue there is a big stone with
Javanese literature containing the
inscription of Joko Dolog. It can be
found on Taman Aspari street. This
unique because of historical value.
SEMANGGI BATIK SURABAYA
This is one of unique batik
from Surabaya. The motif
used are Semanggi leaves and
a famous icon which is Suro
and Boyo are fighting. It
doesn't use many colors like
Madura’s batik but
Surabaya’s batik
characteristic is only use one
theme of bright color.
BATIK MANGROVEThis is a special batik motif-based of
mangroves so we called it "Batik
Mangrove“. The color that been used
for this Batik is more of bright colors
like orange, yellow, red, purple and
brown in general. Batik mangrove
has a specific designs with the motif
of flora and fauna that live in the
mangrove ecosystem like leaves,
flowers, fruits, as well as animals like
fish, crabs and shrimp. Each motif of
mangrove comes with different name
based on the motif in specific.
The characteristic of this type of
visual art is they used small motif
and repeat it more than usual batik.
ANALYZING - LALA
We didn’t find much info about Surabaya visual art that really comes from Surabaya.
But me and my group notices, Surabaya’s visual arts use elements of art, such as one
theme of color , lines and shapes especially wavy, straight and rectangles. Nowadays
Surabaya has been using the icons Tugu Pahlawan monument as a symbol and
surrounded by Semanggi leaves which originally represent Surabaya.
Right now there is very rare painters that paint particular Surabaya’s icon such as
Suro and Boyo statue, Tugu Pahlawan, Semanggi leaves, but the painting styles
mostly are abstract. Most of Surabaya’s visual art we found in many art galleries are
influenced by other’s city culture, such as Jogjakarta and Madura. Overall, the
importance of Surabaya’s visual art is to define and show the identity of Surabaya. The
number of visual art in Surabaya is limited that is why we need to help promote.
ANALYZING-ALDO
.Surabaya visual art is important because it really shows the
culture of Surabaya and it can represent Surabaya. Actually we
from our excursion we find some new Surabaya tradition. For
example udeng and semanggi. When we have found that tradition
of Surabaya we start searching the information of another visual
art. Like paintings we find painter M Sochieb. He painted a
painting about Surabaya war. We want to find information or
other visual art that can attract other people to come to Surabaya
and to see the visual art in Surabaya.
ANALYZING-MICHELLE
Surabaya’s visual art is important because
preserving our visual art can allow our visual art
couldn’t be taken by other country. That is why we
should create more because it can attract many
tourists and visitors to go to Surabaya. So they can
remember the beauty of Surabaya.
ANALYZING - KEVIN
I think Surabaya’s visual art is important for me. It
is important to attract people attention to love
Surabaya city and know that Surabaya is rich of
cultural tradition. Surabaya’s visual art is different
from other city because of the materials are used.
They use many different symbols and the famous one
is Suro and Boyo symbol.
C O N C L U S I O N
Surabaya has visual art although the forms of visual art up to now are not as
many as Bali or Jogjakarta. We assume by visual art, we all can help promoting
Surabaya so our city would be defined easily and be different obviously from
other cities. Another importance of Surabaya’s visual art is to have what we
called ‘city identity ‘which allow us being proud of Surabaya. People can modify
the forms of visual art but the point of modification is not only to make it better
but also to create new symbols that represents Surabaya’s identity which can rise
being proud of Surabaya. This can make people who live or visit Surabaya
remember that Surabaya is a heroic city , Maritime Army based camp, and
unique cultural city. From now on, we should improve and promote more by
designing and promoting Surabaya’s visual art to other city.