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.

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"

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.

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.