Makna simbolik motif karawang gayo dalam perspektif semiotika visual

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the visual structure of Karawang Gayo motifs using Roland Barthes' semiotic theory to uncover the hidden philosophical messages behind traditional Indonesian visual art. The research restriction focuses on key visual elements, including the Mun Berangkat, Pucuk Rebung, Puter Tali, Peger, and Tapak Saleman motifs, alongside their base color schemes. The method employed is a descriptive qualitative analytical approach, utilizing literature reviews of accredited journals, historical books on Gayo customs, and high-resolution photo documentation of authentic Karawang Gayo fabrics. The results indicate that at the denotative level, the motifs display characteristic geometric order and a high-contrast five-color composition. At the connotative level, the patterns communicate psychological and moral messages regarding unity, fortitude, legal boundaries, and justice. At the myth level, this visualization successfully naturalizes the collective ideology of the Gayo community, establishing that social harmony, consensus (mufakat), and the "Sarak Opat" traditional governance philosophy are natural imperatives. In conclusion, the Karawang Gayo cloth is not merely an aesthetic textile product but a visual text embedded with ideology and a worldview essential for sustaining the Gayo ethnic community.