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Pura Mangkunegaran presents royal heritage in Angsukayana batik exhibit
The Mangkunegaran duchy has launched an exhibition and fashion show to present its rich batik heritage that has developed over the centuries.
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A wall display featuring ‘batik tulis’ (hand-drawn batik) is seen on Oct. 29, 2023 at the Angsukayana Mangkunegaran Batik exhibition, held at Sisworini Hall of Mangkunegaran Palace in Surakarta, Central Java. (JP/Nur Janti)
Dozens of members of the Mangkunegaran royal family took to the catwalk at a fashion show on Oct. 29 featuring the batik collection of Pura Mangkunegaran, or Mangkunegaran Palace, held in Pracima Garden within the palace compound located in Surakarta, Central Java.
Duke Mangkunegara X, who founded the Angsukayana Mangkunegaran Batik exhibition and fashion show, explained that the name “Angsukayana”, deriving from angsu meaning cloth and kayana meaning journey, referred to the development of Mangkunegaran batik over the years.
“Through this event, I want to show that batik has been innovated for a long time. Moreover, as a cultural center that still exists today, Pura Mangkunegaran will continue to encourage artists to develop Mangkunegaran batik,” said the 26-year-old duke.
The fashion show on Sunday evening was an intimate affair, with nearly 20 members of the Mangkunegaran royal family taking to the catwalk as models. Among them were the duke’s older brother Prince Paundrakarna Sukmaputra Jiwanegara, whose career has included acting and singing, as well as a stint in politics.
The show also featured singer-actress Shelomita Sulistiany Diah Hadju, who is a maternal descendant of the Mangkunegaran duchy: Her mother, former actress Soemarini “Marini” Soerjosoemarno, is the daughter of Soetarjo Soerjosoemarno, a descendant of Duke Mangkunegara V (1855-1896).
Some of the batik motifs displayed during the fashion show included the Candi Mulyo, representing candi meaning “home” and mulyo meaning “nobility”, and Pisan Bali, which symbolizes the eventual return of a family member who has left. Ceplok Gusti Putri meanwhile, was created by Duchess Mangkunegara VIII (1923-1978) and reflects the grace, dignity and elegance of the wearer.
