The Figure Of Go Tik Swan The Pioneer Of Indonesian Batik

Screenshot of Google Doodle (Aditya Fajar/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Google search page features the figure of Go Tik Swan in today's Google Doodle illustration. He is depicted complete with rolls of batik cloth patterned "Google".

The man is K.R.T. Hardjonagoro, aka Go Tik Swan, a Chinese cultural figure. Visiting the Google Doodle page, Go Tik Swan was born on May 11, 1931, in Solo, Central Java, and comes from a family of batik producers from Surakarta.

The man called Hardjono or Tik Swan is known as a diligent figure and loves Javanese culture. In his youth, K.R.T. Hardjonagoro was known as a Javanese dancer.

In fact, when he was a student in the Department of Javanese Literature, the University of Indonesia in 1955, Hardjono was invited to dance at the National Palace. President Sukarno was also involved with the expertise of Go Tik Swan who was deeply immersed in Javanese culture and art.

"Sukarno was amazed, and more amazed because he brought a young Chinese man. At that time, it was not uncommon for a Chinese person of Chinese descent to learn Javanese dance," as quoted from Kompas's website, Tuesday, May 11.

Illustration of Go Tik Swan (doc. Google Doodle)

He even got a direct order from President Sukarno to create a new batik artwork. Patterns and motifs representing regions in Indonesia.

In the 1950s, Go Tik Swan fulfilled Sukarno's demand by combining unique and diverse patterns and colors, what was later referred to as "Indonesian Batik". This batik design has a more nationalistic pattern and is a combination of a sense of unity, nationalism, and romanticism.

Since then, many batik designers in the country have made Go Tik Swan as a pioneer of Indonesian batik. One of his works is Batik Parang Sawunggaling which is a combination of machete motifs in Keraton Solo with sawunggaling motifs or chicken connection that is often found on the coast of Bali.

Not only Javanese cultural art and batik, but Go Tik Swan is also known as an enthusiastic figure of tosan aji (kris). Because of this, he had founded the Bawarasa Tosanaji association in Solo in 1959.

Go Tik Swan also built the Keraton Art Gallery which is now known as Keraton Surakarta Museum. After 10 years of museum inauguration, he was appointed regent of Anom with the title Raden Tumenggung by Pakubuwono XII, in 1984.

K.R.T Hardjonagoro itself is the title of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (KRT) given by the Palace for its dedication in Javanese culture. In addition, Go Tik Swan also received a Cultural Badge Satya from President Sukarno.

Go Tik Swan or K.R.T Hardjonagoro died on November 5, 2006 ago. After his death, batik and kris works became the hunt for art collectors who admired the complexity of motifs made by Go Tik Swan.