THE UNIQUENESS OF SURABAYA'S VISUAL

ART

Visual Art 1By 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.

LOGO 1&2

LOGO 3&4

LOGO 5&6

LOGO 7&8

PAINTINGS

Mr. M Sochieb

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"

CLOTHESKinds 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.

HANDCRAFTS (SOUVENIRS)

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.

STATUES

Tugu Pahlawan, jalesvev jayamahe, Suro dan Boyo , Joko Dolok

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.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SURABAYA’S VISUAL ART

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.