Cultural and Symbolic Meanings in the Paintings of Vivi Kurnia Kumalasari: A Visual Narrative of Childhood Expression in Indonesian Art

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the cultural and symbolic meanings embedded in the paintings of Vivi Kurnia Kumalasari, an Indonesian child artist, and to interpret how her visual expressions reflect childhood imagination, social values, and cultural identity in Indonesian art.

Method: Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this research analyzes six representative paintings through art criticism and visual interpretation. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation, with data validation ensured through triangulation techniques involving the artist, her parents, and art educators. The analytical framework draws from semiotic and cultural approaches to visual arts to interpret themes, forms, and meanings in Vivi’s works.

Findings: The analysis reveals that Vivi’s paintings depict recurring cultural themes such as nature, community life, national identity, and moral values. Her use of bright colors, naïve forms, and spontaneous brushstrokes illustrates both emotional honesty and cultural symbolism. The artworks not only represent personal imagination but also visualize collective Indonesian experiences—agricultural life, celebration, cooperation, and pride in national identity.

Significance: This study highlights how children’s visual narratives serve as a cultural lens to understand socialization, value formation, and identity construction in Indonesian childhood. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on the intersection of visual art, culture, and education, suggesting that children’s art can function as a medium of cultural communication and symbolic representation of national ethos.