Surabaya (ANTARA) – Ciputra University (UC) Surabaya held a cultural festival celebrating the centennial of the Peranakan batik heritage from the legendary batik house of Oey Soe Tjoen. This was marked by the launch of the book “From the Rainbow for the Universe” on campus on Saturday.
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 people to continue developing 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.
Widianti Widjaja, one of the book’s authors and inheritor of the Oey Soe Tjoen batik tradition, welcomed Ciputra University’s initiative.
He explained that a single piece of Oey Soe Tjoen batik can take up to five years to create, with its distinctive floral and butterfly motifs created using a back-and-forth technique and dyeing.
“Hopefully, new talents will emerge who are interested in continuing this tradition and will appreciate batik more as part of the nation’s cultural heritage,” he hoped.
Reporter: Willi Irawan
Editor: Astrid Faidlatul Habibah