UC Lecturer Launches World Heritage Novel, Celebrating the Lontong Cap Go Meh Tradition
April 15, 2025
jatim.jpnn.com, SURABAYA – Ciputra University (UC) lecturer Dr Shienny Megawati Sutanto, S.Sn., M.M., M.Ds., has once again captured attention with her latest work, a fantasy novel titled Warisan Dua Dunia (Two World Heritage).
Unlike her previous works, which were heavily inspired by Western and Japanese video games, this time Shienny immerses readers in the nuances of Chinese-Indonesian culture, particularly the Lontong Cap Go Meh tradition.
“I wanted Chinese culture to feel naturally integrated into the story, not just a tacked-on backdrop,” Shienny said when met after the book launch.
The novel was part of her doctoral dissertation, which she began working on in 2022 and completed in June 2024. The launch coincided with the Cap Go Meh celebrations.
The story of “A Heritage of Two Worlds” is rooted in Shienny’s childhood experiences growing up near the Hok An Kiong Temple in Surabaya.
“Writing about culture requires in-depth research so that the presentation is cohesive and doesn’t feel patronising,” she said.
She explained that one of the biggest challenges in this novel was how to present the culture without making it feel forced.
Shienny is known as both a novelist and an illustrator. In this novel, she included 18 illustrations, including visualisations of the 12 zodiac signs, which she described as the most complex part of the process.
“Drawing the temple was also quite challenging. It had to be accurate but still have a cartoonish style, which is my style,” she said.
The printed version of this novel is available in black and white, while the e-book is in full colour.
Since 2010, Shienny has published ten fiction novels. One of her popular works is “Thermelian.” Although currently busy teaching in the Visual Communication Design program at the University of Indonesia (UC), she maintains an active workload by managing her own schedule.
“I work for myself, but I remain disciplined about my targets,” she said.
Shienny hopes that the Heritage of Two Worlds can be a gateway for the younger generation to learn about Chinese-Indonesian culture in a fun way.
“Through fantasy stories, I want to invite readers to understand culture in a fun way,” she concluded. (mcr12/jpnn)