The Gajah Oling batik motif typical of Banyuwangi has officially received a communal intellectual property inventory (KIK) registration letter from the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham). The Gajah Oling motif is recorded as an original Traditional Cultural Expression (EBT) of Banyuwangi.
Gajah Oling is one of dozens of batik motifs in Banyuwangi. This motif is arguably the most popular compared to other motifs. Gajah Oling is a combination of the image of an elephant and an uling or a type of eel.
There are several opinions in interpreting this motif. However, the most famous is the symbol of remembering God. Oling is a pasemon from the word iling (remember), while the elephant symbolizes something great which is none other than Almighty God.
The recording of the Gajah Oling motif proves that batik has long been a part of Banyuwangi’s cultural arts. The Banyuwangi Batik Festival (BBF) event is one example of an effort to preserve and develop Banyuwangi Batik as an industry. Last year, BBF raised one of the old Banyuwangi batik motifs, namely Jenon. Previously, BBF also raised the Gajah Oling, Galaran, Sembruk Cacing, Gedekan, Kangkung Setingkes, Paras Gempal, and Jajang Sebarong motifs, to Sekar Jagad Blambangan.
This is the wealth of ancestral heritage that must be maintained, preserved, and developed.
–sh
