Creative Responses of Cirebon Batik Craftsmen towards Free Market Competition

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the creative responses of Trusmi batik Craftsmen towards free market demand of Batik motives in terms of their novelty and innovation. Ethnographic study was conducted with field observation and interview as the research instruments. The participants involved are seven people including craftsmen and business men who lived in Trusmi village (Batik industry center) as the research site. The data were analyzed using visual design approach covering aesthetic elements and philosophical meanings. The findings from observation reveal that there are three batik keraton motives identified; classical, semi-classical, and contemporary motive which have different ornament characteristics. Those characteristics are indicated from the structure, colors, and shapes of the ornaments of using wadasan in the batik motives. In terms of philosophical meaning, each ornament brings different meaning one to another which is related to their cultures and beliefs. Due to, the increasing demand of batik, it shows that the craftsmen and business men have different creative response to sustain their business in competitive market. Some of them showed their creative response through creating more various motives, while others creatively response through creating some programs of batik education center where many visitors can learn in their gallery.

Keywords: Classical, semi-classical, contemporary, Innovation, Creative Response, Keraton Cirebon Batik Motives, trade market