THE MANDALA SYSTEM IN CLASSICAL SURAKARTA STYLE JAVANESE BATIK MOTIFS

Classical batik, as a cultural product of Javanese society, has for a long time reflected the sophistication of various skills, concepts, ideologies, and philosophical values which continue to exist today. As an artefact, batik is a cultural object which has a patterned artistic system and a standardized aesthetic symbolization. In order to understand its meaning, especially the family of classical batik motifs known as ceplok, batik can be studied with a Mandala system which can guide numerous visual signs into the structural systematics of its symbols. This system is able to interpret the visual language of batik through a signification that is easily understood in a logical manner by today's society. The classical nature of Javanese batik motifs is not in their metaphysical performance but rather in that their meaning and philosophy are a guide for the life and livelihood of Javanese society.