<![CDATA[Contemporary batik serves as a potent medium for constructing and affirming regional identity, often incorporating ecological motifs that transcend traditional boundaries. This study critically analyzes how contemporary Baluran batik motifs are constructed as a visual image of regional identity for Situbondo Regency. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, with Dilthey's Hermeneutics model as the interpretative framework, the research investigates the intricate interplay of visual semiotics and regional identity theory. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews with designers, industry owners, and cultural figures, passive participant observation, and visual documentation of batik artworks from three prominent industries in Situbondo. Findings reveal that Baluran's ecological icons, such as peacocks, bulls, and deer, are not merely denotative representations of nature but undergo a process of visual objectification and commodification into culturally laden symbols. Designers' creative stylization (Ausdruck), rooted in their unique experiences (Erlebnis) of Baluran's ecosystem, produces motifs understood (Verstehen) as embodying beauty, resilience, and ecological distinctiveness. This dynamic process highlights how regional identity is not merely inherited but actively constructed through visual cultural practices. The study contributes theoretically by advancing the discourse on translocal transformation of traditional art in contemporary contexts, particularly demonstrating how ecological icons become subnational identity markers via visual commodification. Methodologically, it showcases Dilthey's Hermeneutics as a robust analytical tool for integrating diverse data in visual semiotic interpretation.]]>
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