Andaman Identity in a New Perspective through the Contemporary Batik Art DOI:

Abstract

This study sought to: (1) examine the contextual constitution of the shared identity of Thailand’s Andaman provincial cluster, and (2) produce contemporary batik artworks that articulate this shared identity through visual practice. The research adopted an axiological, practice-based approach in visual arts, focusing on three sites in the Andaman region: Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi. Data were generated through perception-based surveys on regional image and identity expression, alongside investigations of the physical and landscape characteristics of each site. The data were analyzed to identify shared themes and place-specific values, which were subsequently interpreted through a Saussurean semiotic framework linking artistic form to nature, lifeways, belief systems, memory, and cultural diversity.

              The findings indicate that the shared identity of the Andaman provincial cluster functions as a repository of spatial meanings, comprising both abstract and concrete dimensions. The abstract dimension was predominant, accounting for 62%, while the concrete dimension accounted for 38%. The most prominent shared identity was nature, particularly the sea, mountains, and forests.

These findings were synthesized into an imagined visual construct and semiotic framework consisting of three categories: iconic signs, abstract signs, and polysemic signs. This framework informed the creation of six contemporary batik artworks. The works employed batik techniques, including controlled dye diffusion, the preservation of white fabric areas, and layered wax application to create tonal depth, combined with mixed media in a contemporary installation-oriented approach.

The creative process operated as a mechanism for meaning-making through materials, signs, and visual structures. The works were characterized by simplified forms, grouped color schemes, and dynamic linear movement as key visual elements.

              The evaluation of the six artworks showed an overall highest-level rating, with a mean score of 4.48 out of 5.00. The highest-rated aspect was the use of contemporary materials, techniques, or concepts to enhance the value of traditional identity ( x̄ = 4.80), followed by the potential for national or international development without losing local identity ( x̄ = 4.60).