Source:https://harianbhirawa.co.id/uc-surabaya-luncurkan-buku-dari-pelangi-untuk-semesta/

UC Surabaya Launches Book “From the Rainbow to the Universe”

March 2, 2025

Supporting the Legacy of Oey Soe Tjoen’s Batik
Surabaya, Bhirawa
Ciputra University (UC) Surabaya has launched the book “From the Rainbow to the Universe.” The 15-cm-thick book details the history and production process of Peranakan batik from the legendary Oey Soe Tjoen batik house in Pekalongan. The book launch also commemorates the centennial of Oey Soe Tjoen’s Peranakan batik cultural heritage at the Peranakan Festival held by UC on Saturday (February 1).

This book is a collaborative work by Widianti Widjaja (Oey Kim Lian), the third generation of the Oey Soe Tjoen family, with Marini Yunita and Dr Rani Prihatmanti, Director of the Ciputra Centre for Heritage Studies (CCHS).

Ciputra University Rector, Ir. Yohannes Somawiharja, M.Sc., stated that preserving Peranakan batik is a major contribution to the Indonesian nation. “This is a national masterpiece. The Oey Soe Tjoen batik house has created Peranakan batik that is recognised as one of the best in Indonesia,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of documenting the batik-making process as an effort to preserve cultural heritage and educate students about the historical and artistic value of batik.

Ciputra University not only launched the book but also encouraged batik preservation through various educational and research programs. Yohannes Somawiharja emphasised that UNESCO’s recognition of batik as a world cultural heritage should motivate the continued development of this art form.

This cultural festival is a clear demonstration of the collaboration between academia and the community in preserving cultural heritage. The book “From the Rainbow for the Universe” is expected to inspire future generations in maintaining national identity and pride.

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Widianti Widjaja, one of the authors of the book and an inheritor of the Oey Soe Tjoen batik tradition, welcomed Ciputra University’s initiative. She explained that making a single piece of Oey Soe Tjoen batik can take up to five years, with its distinctive motifs of tulips, wrens, and butterflies with open wings, created using a back-and-forth technique with detailed dyeing.

“Each batik-making process is detailed and has its own rules. There’s no specific signature, but people will recognise the character and distinctive features of Oey Soe Tjoen batik,” she explained.

Widianti also mentioned that her company only receives orders for 20 items a year. This is because the process of making Oey Soe Tjoen batik takes a very long time due to the detailed designs and colours. She also mentioned that her current 12 employees each have their own specialisations.

“This book details the production process in great detail. Therefore, I hope that it will encourage new talents to be interested in continuing this tradition and to better appreciate batik as part of our nation’s cultural heritage,” she said. [ina.wwn]