Javanese Temple Bas Relief as Inspiration of ‘Kiritimukha’ Postcard Series Creation

Abstract

Correspondence using postcard via regular postal service is an obsolete mean of communication in 21st century. However in Indonesia, since 2012 popularity postcard correspondence has increased. The main purpose of doing it is for hobby. The appearance of Postcrossing.com, a social media that facilitate worldwide postcard correspondence is responsible for increase of popularity. Until 2020 there are about 9000 active Post-crossing account registered as Indonesian. In the beginning, these people used any available postcard in the market. Most of available postcard at the time are Indonesian tourism postcards because they are still desirable as inexpensive souvenirs and collectible. Slowly, there are various themed postcard with various design and printing technique popping up through Indonesian online shops and social media. There are various themes such as local Indonesian culture from various regions, Indonesian daily life, traditional toys, etc. with pictures not only from photograph, but also many created with digital painting. Ancient Javanese temples are one of popular themes for postcards. Most of them show the photograph of Javanese temples, a few also show painting modelled after those temples. There are none of Javanese temple themed cards’ picture are made with digital imaging and neither of them show certain bas relief of the temples. Creation of postcard with pictures of certain bas relief of Javanese temples will be a new variation of Javanese temples themed postcards. This paper tries to describe creative process of designing new themed postcard with pictures modelled after Javanese temples’ bas relief with digital vector graphic imaging. Qualitative approach is used to understand the potential target audiences. As a visual communication media, the design process of this postcard series tries to adjust according objects in the environment and target audiences with design needs, so that later it can produce a communicative design work for the community.