UC Surabaya Holds Peranakan Festival 2025, Launches Book Celebrating 100 Years of Oey Soe Tjoen Batik
March 2, 2025
PR SURABAYA – Committed to preserving Indonesia’s cultural heritage, particularly batik, Ciputra University (UC) Surabaya held the Peranakan Festival 2025.
The event was marked by the launch of the book “From the Rainbow for the Universe” on Saturday, March 1, 2025, which explores the history and uniqueness of Oey Soe Tjoen Batik, one of the finest Peranakan batiks in Indonesia.
Dedication to 100 Years of Oey Soe Tjoen Batik
This book is a collaboration between Widianti Widjaja (Oey Kim Lian), the third generation of the Oey Soe Tjoen family, Marini Yunita, and Dr Rani Prihatmanti, Director of the Ciputra Centre for Heritage Studies (CCHS).
This launch is not just a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Oey Soe Tjoen Batik, but also an effort to educate and preserve cultural heritage.
In his presentation to the media, the Rector of Ciputra University, Yohannes Somawiharja, emphasised that this step demonstrates Ciputra University Surabaya’s commitment to supporting the nation’s heritage and rich cultural heritage.
“Because this batik is a national masterpiece, and it is also the best Peranakan batik in Indonesia,” said Yohannes.
He also stated, “This documentation is important. Why? So that students can understand the batik-making process, which is full of art and historical value.”
According to the Rector of Ciputra University Surabaya, documentation is also a way for the Oey Soe Tjoen batik family to share their heritage with the wider community, while also encouraging the younger generation to participate in preserving batik.
The Dedicated Batik-Making Process
Oey Soe Tjoen Batik, Pikiran Rakyat Surabaya. On the same occasion, Widianti Widjaja, the direct successor to the Oey Soe Tjoen Batik family, revealed that the process of making this Peranakan batik requires extraordinary meticulousness.
Widianti explained this extraordinary meticulousness, explaining that it can take up to five years to complete a single piece of batik.
“One piece of cloth can take up to five years to complete,” Widianti said.
“Why does it take so long? Because Oey Soe Tjoen batik is unique: a back-and-forth process, with dyeing using a dyeing technique,” she explained.
She also stated that every step in the Oey Soe Tjoen batik-making process is sacred, and all processes are carried out according to the traditions passed down by the Oey Soe Tjoen family.
The biggest challenge in preserving this batik is the limited human resources.
Widianti emphasised that the Oey Soe Tjoen batik house applies high standards in the batik-making process to maintain the quality of Oey Soe Tjoen batik.
And once again, this is certainly not an easy task,” said Widianti.
Paving the Way for the Next Generation
With the book “From the Rainbow for the Universe,” Widianti hopes that a new generation will emerge who appreciates and understands the value of batik as a cultural heritage.
“We want the younger generation to know that the batik they wear is not made easily. It requires high dedication,” she concluded.
The 2025 Peranakan Festival is an important opportunity to reintroduce Peranakan batik to the wider community.
Ciputra University hopes this initiative will inspire more people to preserve Indonesia’s cultural heritage.***