Visual Analysis of Niken Larasati’s Braille Painting: A Mimesis

Studies

Probosiwi

Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar Universitas Ahmad Dahlan Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Braille Painting, Niken Larasati, Mimesis

Abstract: The purpose of this reseach is determining the aesthetic appeal of the aspects of the form (formal), moisture

content (symbol), and emotional expression on Niken Larasati’s Braille painting. This painting themed by

dolanan anak (traditional children games) and has embedded on ox skin. For getting a deep analysis, author

used Mimesis theory by Aristotle. The research method used is qualitative research. Techniques and data

collection tools are done by interviews, field observation, and document reviews. Data analysis using

semiotics approach on qualitative research that the author must decipher the meaning carried by the sign or

symbol. The results obtained from this research are the symbolic interactions between idea, visual, and

cultural representation on the dolanan anak activities. Result study is expected to provide information for

people how about a painter creates the artworks.

1 INTRODUCTION

Dolanan anak are traditional children games that are

played communally or together and there are a

number of activities. Dolanan anak are divided into

various types such as dhakon, gobag sodhor,

engkling, pasaran, anak-anakan, and others. It is

usually played by children and it contains noble

teachings of values such as tolerance, mutual respect,

queuing, careless for other friends, being patient,

honest to health. John Huizinga's statement in

(Dharmamulya, 2008) defines dolanan as a playing

activity: (a) a voluntary existing out-side "ordinary"

life; (b) totally absorbing; (c) unproductive;

(d)occurring within a circumscribed time and space;

(e) ordered by rules; and (f) characterized by group

relationships which surround themselves by secrecy

and disguise. (Dharmamulya, 2008) The human

activity shown by the children is taught by

generations and contains the identity of a society

through expressing values being, so that the children

bow is one of the cultural assets that deserve to be

preserved. "Psychologically, traditional games are

able to generate creativity and bring children closer to

the natural world and God." (Krisdayatmiko, 1999).

This is reflected in the types and activities of children

who teaching noble values. (Ariani, 1997) said that

dolanan anak teaches following values are:

 The democratic values shown by children

before they begin to play through the behavior

of choosing and determining the type of game

must follow all the rules or rules agreed.

 Educational values taught include aspects of

physical and spiritual (social characteristics,

discipline, ethics, honesty, independence and

confidence).

 Personality values include physical aspects

(strength, endurance, flexibility) and emotional

aspects (social communication that foster

leadership attitude for children).

 The value of courage in taking decisions by

taking into account certain strategies, so as to

win the game.

 Healthy value leads to play activities of

children who use many movements such as

running, jumping, and chasing so that the

muscles of the body can move and function

properly.

 The value of unity attached to the Javanese

society about the principle of life in harmony

with others or community life based on mutual

understanding or tepa slira.

 A moral value that is closely related to the

philosophical value or essence of the game

itself is to shape the child's personality.

Probosiwi, .

Visual Analysis of Niken Larasati’s Braille Painting: A Mimesis Studies.

DOI: 10.5220/0008410702510257

In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Learning Innovation (ICLI 2018), pages 251-257

ISBN: 978-989-758-391-9

251

Based on the description, children are directed to

leverage all the things around them, preparing places

before playing, creative thinking, utilizing or

processing and empowering all the things around

him. Currently the popularity of children's clothing

has increasingly disappeared due to the proliferation

of modern children games such as video and online

games. This modern game, it takes more children to

dissolve into their own world and reduce their

interaction with the environment. It became a concern

by Niken because the lack of character education of

children based on noble values. The problematic of

the disappearance of child polish has long been

blowing, many worries arise then discussed in

seminars or mass media. This phenomenon continues

to resonate today because it becomes a serious

problem for the mental development of children in

Indonesia. At present our country has not been

dealing correctly and thoroughly about conservation

of dolanan anak. A painter named Niken Larasati was

moved to make the artwork that concerning for the

preservation of children.

She was born in Yogyakarta on December 28th in

1971, an painting graduate from SMSR vocational

high school in 1988 and Department of Photography

and Graphic Design of MSD (Modern School Design)

in 1994. Niken is a painter who does not need the

services of managers to organize all artistic activities.

Besides profession as her professional, Niken also

acts as a wife and mother for her three children, she

residing in Kronggahan, Sleman, and Yogyakarta is

still taking time to socializ. Niken realizes that she is

a woman who has a career as well as a task that must

be lived, but not hinder in the creative process in the

work.

The name of Niken Larasati became known and

became a talk in various mass media and social media

because she held her solo exhibition in Japan for 3

months has brought 22 artworks on canvas which

themed dolanan anak in 2012. Her solo exhibition

also attending Prof. Nobuko Sasaki, a lecture from

Daito Bunka University, Saitama, Japan and got a

chance doing workshop in 111 Javanese vocabulary

that received a good appreciation by the people. The

artworks made and have been exhibited in Japan,

depicted with female figures are meant to show and

introduce the culture that Indonesia has, especially

from Java, in the form of dolanan anak to the world.

This is the main attraction for the author to be

researched. After of her solo exhibition successfully,

Niken expanded into the business world. She made

leather bags from Indonesian calf leather that was

ordered directly from Magetan, East Java. In each of

her leather bags, she always pinned figures about

child dressings. The colour is used a tertiary colour

category that has undergone a mixing process of

various pigments.

In addition to preserving a dolanan anak, Niken

Larasati also answered the questions from a masseur

blind massage who had met her about 17 years ago.

At that time, the person asked her what her profession

and what is the meaning of painting. Based on her

observations and experiences as a painter, and in

order to answer that question, she created a Braille

painting. At the first, the artworks themed dolanan

anak is only done on the canvas, but over time, she

develops into other media of skin. The reason is that

the work can be enjoyed directly by the dissenting

people, so this work is intended for all circles. Canvas

paintings, leather bags, and Braille paintings are

interesting combinations of visualize to be examined

by the author using the Mimesis theory of Aristotle.

To get a more in-depth study, the author has added

semiotics analysis for qualitative research. An in-

depth study is conducted to dissect the whole and

explain in detail the relationship between the symbols

in her artworks.

(Arne, 1995) in her book Theories of Mimesis

explained that: "Plato uses the word with a primarily

visual significance; mimesis suggests image, a visual

image related to imitation, re-presentation". In Plato's

arts theory, the paintings made by artists are only a

mimemis of worldly reality, whereas the temporal

reality itself is but a false mirror of a perfect world of

ideas or forms. Thus, a painter according to Plato is

merely the imitator of the apparition in this world, so

that it is twice as far away from the world of reality

perfect and eternal. According to his philosophy, art

misleads people by keeping away from perfect

reality. (Gie, 2004) Imitating can give you joy and

beauty. Artists do "imitate" reality, but deviate from

the world of experience empirical. The characteristics

of beauty are unity (perfection of form, no more no

less), harmony (balance of proportional elements),

and clarity (clear, pure, clear, without any doubt).

Plato's mimesis is, in my reading, a movable

concept, and every effort to make it reasonably

unambiguous would be a betrayal of that floating

ambiguity. The various translations that have been

offered during the long history of the concept give

some clues to its possibilities, Including its scenic and

visual connotations, the which seem constant in four

words like “imitation”/ “mirroring”/

“representation”, or the German versions

Nachahmung and Darstellung. (Arne, 1995) Aristotle

reveals that mimesis is a form of imitation of an

action. He is defined by mythos and praxis, which

brings the concept of time and action- in contrast to

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Platonic mimesis, which is closer to image,

imagination and imitation. Mythos is a concept of

order, which makes it possible to view literary works

as structured wholes. Praxis refers to already

structured events or chains of events, which can be

perceived as meaningful and answering a purpose.

(Arne, 1995) Artists do not imitate reality or nature,

but represent nature or reality. According to this view,

mimesis is a picture of what is possible, so the work

of art can also be unrealistic. Based on the works of

Neo-Platonist Plotinos, the artworks do not imitate

reality, but rather imitate the pure form of a form or

idea. Here, the artwork has seen parallel to the

products that made by artisan’s orphenomena natural

itself.

Plato stressed that the beauty of the work of art

lies in the form or idea expressed by the artist through

the raw material. Artists can do this because the ideal

form world provides a pure idea of art and beauty,

passing through his mind during the creative process.

Plato considers the idea that man possesses something

that is perfect and unchangeable. Idea is the ideal

world found in humans. Idea by man can only be

known through ratio, it is impossible to be seen or

touched with the five senses. Idea for Plato is fixed or

unchangeable, for example the idea of a triangular

shape, it is only one but can be transformed in the

form of triangles made of wood with more than

number one. The idea of the triangle cannot change,

but the triangle made of wood can change.

Plato's view had gained resistance from Aristotle,

a pioneer of Plato's opposition to mimesis, which also

opposed Plato's low view of art. If Plato thinks that

art only humiliates humans for appealing to passions

and emotions, he considers art as something that can

raise the mind. When aristotle saw art as katharsis,

purification of the soul. Artwork by Aristotle was

causing concern and compassion to free from low

desire audience. Aristotle considers artists and writers

who do mimesis not merely trace the reality, but a

creative process to produce novelty. Artists and

writers produce a new form of the sensory reality it

gains. In his book Poetica (Luxemberg, 1986),

Aristotle argues that literature is not a copy (as Plato

describes) but an expression of "universalia" (general

concepts). From the self-effacing reality of an artist

or poet chooses several elements to be re-created into

“the eternal human nature”, universal truth. That is

makes Aristotle strongly argue that artists and writers

are much more powerful than carpenters and other

craftsmen. According to Plato, the world is divided

into three worlds of ideas, the physical world, and

artwork (Bertens, 1979). The world of ideas is the

source of all forms/ ideas (true).

The world we live in today is the physical world.

The physical world is the imitation of the world of

ideas. The point is everything we have saw,

everything we have hold, something we think

beautiful, ugly, or other that exists in this physical

world is a replica of the true form that is in the world

of ideas. According to Plato, before our spirit

descends from the world of ideas and blends with our

bodies in this physical world, our spirits are

introduced with many concepts. Given this thought

means in the physical world there is no such thing as

originality. In Aristotle's book Poetic, all types of

poems (epic poet, tragedy, comedy), or even flute

games are imitations. And he divides the imitation

into three namely means, object, and manner

(Bertens, 1979). (a) “Means” which means ways of

rhythm, language (dialogue, voice of person), and

harmony. Aristotle exemplifies, the art of rhyme is

only imitation of the language, does not involve

harmony. (b) Object means to imitate from human

nature (character). Aristotle argues that human

character in general is two that virtue and vice

(goodness and evil). (c) Manner means the

presentation of a character. A player or actor acts/

pretends to be a character he plays in a story, good or

evil. An actor performs, represents imitation of the

nature/ character of the real life.

2 METHOD

Visual analysis of Braille painting by Niken Larasati

is qualitative, so it needs a process of reading,

understanding, and practice in accordance with the

basic concepts and rules that exist in qualitative

research. “Qualitative is research naturalistic or

natural research, ethnography, symbolic

interactionism, inward perspective,

ethnomethodology, phenomenology, case studies,

interpretive, ecological, and descriptive.” (Moleong,

2010) Qualitative research seeks to build a view of

the object under study in detail through explanations

by essays, holistic, and complex images. Qualitative

methods consist of observation, interview, or

document review. This method is used because of

several considerations (1) adjusting qualitative

methods more easily when faced with plural reality;

(2) this method presents directly the nature of the

relationship between the researcher and the

respondent; (3), this method is more sensitive and

more adaptable to much sharpening of the shared

effect on the value patterns encountered.

Qualitative research aims to understand the

phenomenon or text that occurs in the object of

Visual Analysis of Niken Larasati’s Braille Painting: A Mimesis Studies

253

research such as behaviour, perception, motivation of

action, and others holistically, descriptive on the

context of natural and natural methods. Observations

made on the main object in the form of Braille

paintings are enclosed in the leather themed dolanan

child. Participant interview selected by the author

among others.

 Junanto Herdiawan, a Indonesian journalist

who lived in Japan.

 Seiichi Okawa, a former Tempo journalist in

Indonesia for 25 years who knows Niken

through facebook and since he learned that he

will perform solo exhibitions in Japan in 2012,

then willing to be a writer for the catalog of

solo exhibitions Niken Larasati in Japan.

 Tri Agus Susanto Siswowiharjo, a lecturer in

communication science and secretary of the

department in the Communication Studies

ProgramME "STPMD" Yogyakarta, wrote a

book entitled "Merapi Tak Pernah Ingkar Janji"

a humor book that shows the expression of

creativity and endurance of the Yogyakarta

community in facing the reality of life, one of

them is the disaster of Mount Merapi eruption.

Data collection will be done by literature review,

interviews, and observation direct. A literature review

by the author to track and review the literature

including the theoretical foundations such as books,

journals, research results, articles, and media

coverage related to the object of research. This is

done to support the foundation of thought and deepen

the concept and writing for to develop the analysis in

the research. Primary data of research is 3 pieces of

painting Braille.

The author uses a semiotics analysis tool that must

study signs and symbols commonly used in certain

scientific domains and understand the rules of use.

The author must decipher the meaning carried by the

sign or symbol (Sarosa, 2017). the semiotics approach

according to Hackley (Sarosa, 2017) consists of: (a)

the questions asked; (b) the potential source of the

sign is: object (visual semiosis) → style of dress, the

use of objects in advertising, font type, use of

symbols); gestur (bodily semiosis) → facial

expression, expressive behavior, posture , face type,

body position, product; speech (verbal semiosis) →

idiom, accent, or dialect used.

Figure 1: Schematic analysis (Source: Probosiwi, 2018).

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Based on the theoretical basis and data analysis tools

used, the author has made regular observations of the

painting Braille by Niken Larasati. Based on the

analysis scheme in Figure 1, Aristotle's mimesis

concept and analysis semiotics on qualitative research

became the foundation in outlining the results of this

research. In Niken's artwork, it describes the world

situation of children who have freedom, innocence,

and joy. They are portrayed with innocent characters,

as they are, and have not been contaminated by

certain interests. The number of displayed figures is

always large, so there is a perception that clothing

children's teaches children not to be selfish, always

cooperate, to build tolerance. They become an

important subject in salvation as well as cultural

preservation, because they are the next generation

which means the shoot of a nation.

The result of intensive interviews between the

writer and Niken gained exposure as follows:

“dolanan anak said to the philosophy of the Javanese

much in common, but please note games traditional

children elsewhere in the world also exist such as

Japan, the Netherlands, Ghana, Middle East that use

creativity, contact with nature and the use of the

environment is just a different name and was more

likely to self-mature to the environment just outside

the room. (Larasati, 2015) All of Braille's paintings

are portrayed on the outdoor area as a feature playing

dolanan anak at outdoors and a form of criticism of

the reduced playing field for children today. Figure

children do not wear footwear such as shoes, sandals,

or the like. It provides effects a healthy and resilient

for children's physical indirectly. They become

healthier and stronger. Furthermore, the children's

bowl contains memory, nostalgia, and part of the

child’s breath and prepares their mental facing new

life later. In it, they are taught to be patient (waiting

to play), working together (shoulder-to-should in

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game), tolerance (helping a friend difficult while

playing together), and responsibility (preparing and

clearing the place after playing).

The values taught use the principle of

independence; set the game when it starts and ends;

face weather conditions that may change at any time

as a form of self-resilience; can measure the ability of

friends, respect each other and respect the conditions

that all these contain small risks. Children's dolphins

dismiss the assumptions of traits generated by gender

groupings, in other words there is no difference

between women and men, both of which have the

same place and opportunity. (Herdiawan, 2014) said

that gender and inferior stereotyping of women is no

longer a problem for society, because through Niken

can be seen the real action as women who have a

double profession and are able to work with

extraordinary management. Women and men do not

have biological differences but in terms of their

capacity and capacity both share the same portion

because they basically need each other and support

each other. In addition, women are no longer only

imposed on domestic territory, but also broader

coverage. The meeting between Niken and Junanto

Herdiawan was the process of appointing a human

agency structure to the surface, and it could even be

said to be the "medium" of providing power. The

appointment process referred to is Niken's name

began to be known through the coverage carried out

by Junanto Herdiawan and disseminated in various

media in Japan. This is the main attraction because

the majority of figures in Niken's painting is female.

Another online article was obtained by author

Jennifer Zhang uploaded about child games as

follows: "However, I think traditional games are still

indispensible in children's learning process, even

much more essential than modern games, especially

in modern society. One primary merit of traditional

games is that they are foster children's

communication skills. Unlike most modern games

which focus on the interactions between children and

machines, traditional games provide a relaxing and

enjoyable atmosphere where children can chat,

laugh and cooperate face to face. As a result,

communicating with a variety of people will not be an

issue for these children any more. Furthermore, it is

the educational functions of traditional games that

hold alive today. In fact, these traditional games were

elaborately devised by educators and have been

proven effective in improving children's skills on

different aspects in the previous teaching practices".

The article provides an explanation of the importance

children's traditional games because it provides a

relaxed and enjoyable space for them to mingle, joke,

and meet face-to-face. This activity is included in the

social interaction of how to deal with situations,

conditions, communication, and possible difficulties

during the game. Game play activities traditional

become more effective when done in collaboration

with educators, in this case the parents and teachers

as a learning medium.

Figure 2: Braille painting works niken larasati title

"Pasaran" (Source: Author documentation, 2017).

Based on the article's excerpt, the author relates it

to Niken's idea of developing a dolanan anak on

Braille paintings. She seeks to answer questions of the

blind and as an expression of self-indulgence. In this

present era, children with disabilities have started to

pay much attention, as evidenced by the many

inclusive schools that are accompanied by the

availability of teachers for the crew. Niken as a

painter provides an alternative media of art and

cultural learning for children with disabilities.

Activities in which there is social interaction also

need to be taught to them to be able to socialize,

communicate, and interact with his friends. The

author also obtained secondary data from interviews

with Seiichi Okawa via email, a former Tempo

journalist in Indonesia for 25 years and is now the he

is a Chairman of Graha Budaya Indonesia in Japan.

Okawa mentions that "the quality and power

possessed by the artist comes from the work it creates.

Not only aesthetic issues, but also the purpose of

making works. Even artists have more value when

able to play more than one profession, as well as

Niken who remains consistent to maintain the

existence and idealism in the work for the

achievement of the goal desired is to revive the child's

increasingly extinct dolanan (Okawa, 2015).

Furthermore, Seiichi Okawa says the Niken

painting is like a history book containing the meaning

of the work can be enjoyed all the time and read by

the audience according to their past empirical

experience of the game of tradition. Meanwhile, the

purity of the work revealed by him lies in his

statement saying that Niken no longer need to be a

Visual Analysis of Niken Larasati’s Braille Painting: A Mimesis Studies

255

famous artist to be able to introduce her artworks, just

doing with honesty and enjoy the process let alone

still understand his role as a mother and wife. At this

point, women have a very important role for the

survival of heritage has owned by Indonesia,

especially in Java. (Okawa, 2015) The Niken’s

artwork idea in the artworks when associated with

Aristotle's thinking that art as something that can raise

the mind. Aristotle considers artists and writers who

do mimesis not merely trace the fact, but a creative

process to produce novelty. She does so by

representing the painting on the sensitivity of touch,

so that painting can not only be enjoyed and

interpreted by normal human, but also the person with

disability. The figures presented are embroidered

using special tools made by her and assisted by her

husband. The tool is made in various sizes tailored to

the thick needs of the thin inlay line on the object.

Thus, this painting can be said to have creative

elements and novelty in terms of art works in

Indonesia. At this time, her artwork is being exhibited

in France. In addition, Niken also will be held her

third solo exhibition at the National Gallery of

Indonesia. Tri Agus Susanto Siswowiharjo said the

artist working from the heart, honesty, originality,

and purity must understand that artworks don’t stand

alone; it means that it is side by side with other art

media or supporters of artists' artistic activities.

Figure 3: Painting braille the work of Niken Larasati

entitled "Perahu Layar" (Source: Author documentation,

2017.

Figure 4: Some braille paintings by Niken Larasati (Source:

Author's documentation, 2014 & 2017).

Niken's artworks analysis using semiotics in

qualitative research has a compliant component

consisting of questions posed, sources potential of

signs, and gestures. Based on observations of Braille

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paintings and interviews with her, the authors

obtained information on the reasons for choosing of

dolanan anak theme for each of their work. This is

because, the successor generation of Indonesia has

many who do not know what a traditional child play

is let alone play it. They've enjoyed sophisticated

games, though developments provide many benefits

as well. It's just that the next generation of the nation

should still not leave the identity or character as part

of the state of Indonesia. For her, dolanan anak is not

just a mere game, but also a form of cultural and

artistic learning because it teaches moral values that

deserve to be maintained. The potential source of the

mark refers to the objects and figures displayed on

each Braille painting as the female figure dominates

the space. Character of children who exist in

Indonesia with all kinds of skin color, face shape, hair

models, and so on. Niken gives an understanding to

others that, dolanan anak has powered to unite anyone

through playful activity without seeing tribe, race,

religion, education, to degrees. In the background of

the artworks, she creates a line groove that, when

observed in dynamic motion, reflects the position of

the extinct child's bow and now seeks to resurrect.

The children's figure that playing dolanan anak

portrayals look dynamic with different positions and

expressions. In Braille painting, the floppy play

activity and are encrusted using special tools,

resulting in a palpable texture.

Figure 5: Sketches of braille paintings which tied on the

skin (Source: Facebook Niken Larasati, 2018).

4 CONCLUSION

Based on the analysis of the work using Aristotelian

mimesis theory and semiotics approach in qualitative

research, it can be deduced that the ideas and ideas of

the work of the painters originated from empirical

experience, anxiety, and the spirit of novelty. These

three things are able to increase the quality and

attractiveness of a work made by painters. As a

painter, Niken not only stops on one media only, but

is able to penetrate to other media tailored to the needs

and convey the intent of the work. The role of artists

in the educational process for the next generation is

necessary, so that can be obtained a combination of

arts and cultural education. It is intended to combine

techniques with the empirical experience of artists.

Artwork can be used as an alternative to cultural

learning media created by artists.

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