Jurnal VARIDIKA
Volume 38 No 3, June 2026

Exploration of Mathematical Concepts in Slobog Solo Batik Motifs

Novani, Jihan (Unknown)
Nurcahyo, Adi (Unknown)
Setyaningsih, Rini (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
07 Mar 2026

Abstract

Previous ethnomathematics studies on Indonesian batik have largely concentrated on widely recognized motifs, resulting in limited scholarly attention to several classical motifs that possess distinctive visual and philosophical characteristics. Batik Slobog Solo is one such motif that remains underexplored from a mathematical perspective. This study aims to investigate and describe the mathematical concepts embedded within the Batik Slobog Solo motif as a foundation for developing culturally contextualized mathematics learning. The research adopts a qualitative design employing an ethnographic approach, with data collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation at the Danar Hadi Batik Museum in Surakarta. The exploration process follows four guiding questions: “Where do I start looking?”, “How do I find it?”, “How do I know that I have found something significant?”, and “How to understand it?”. The findings indicate that Batik Slobog Solo embodies various mathematical concepts, including plane geometry and transformational geometry, arithmetic patterns represented through square numbers and arithmetic sequences, as well as discrete mathematics concepts involving tiling and graph theory. These concepts are reflected in the repetition, regularity, spatial relationships, and systematic arrangement of motif elements. The results demonstrate that Batik Slobog Solo has substantial potential as a culturally grounded instructional resource that supports meaningful mathematics learning. This study contributes to ethnomathematics literature by expanding the scope of mathematical analysis on less-explored batik motifs and emphasizes the importance of integrating local cultural heritage into mathematics education to enhance conceptual understanding while promoting cultural preservation.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

varidika

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Mathematics Other

Description

Journal Varidika is an open access journal published by Lembaga Pengembangan Publikasi dan Buku Ajar, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, twice a year (June and December). The journal focus on both empirical and literature studies in educational field, specifically on HOTS-based education, distance ...