The rich aquatic tourism potential of Klaten Regency has become more than just a tourist attraction; it has also inspired the creation of innovative craft artworks. This was demonstrated by Nuri Fitriana, a student of the Craft Education Study Program, Faculty of Languages, Arts, and Culture (FBSB), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), through her artistic project titled “Umbul Ponggok Klaten Tourism as an Inspiration for the Creation of Hand-Drawn Batik for Women’s Apparel as a Representation of Local Wisdom.”

Through this work, the Jarum Village, Bayat, Klaten native transformed the charm and unique characteristics of Umbul Ponggok into hand-drawn batik motifs applied to women’s clothing and textile materials. A destination widely recognized for its underwater tourism activities was reinterpreted into batik designs that blend aesthetic value, cultural significance, and local identity. According to Nuri, various visual elements associated with Umbul Ponggok—including koi fish, water bubbles, underwater rocks, aquatic vegetation, and diving activities—were developed into decorative batik ornaments that represent the local wisdom of Klaten.

Umbul Ponggok is one of Klaten Regency’s leading tourist destinations, renowned for its crystal-clear spring water and various underwater activities such as snorkeling and underwater photography. The presence of freshwater fish, unique submerged properties, and a distinctive aquatic ecosystem creates a rich visual landscape that served as the primary source of inspiration for Nuri’s batik creations.

In developing the artwork, the graduate of SMKN 5 Yogyakarta followed three main stages: exploration, design, and realization. The exploration phase involved direct observation at Umbul Ponggok, literature studies, and field documentation. The visual elements identified during this process were then transformed into sketches and batik ornament designs before being realized through traditional hand-drawn batik techniques on primissima cotton fabric. The production process included wax application (canting), dyeing, wax removal, and final finishing.

The project resulted in nine hand-drawn batik works consisting of two women’s shirts, two women’s vests, and five batik textile pieces. The collection includes: Swarnatirta Ponggok Batik Shirt, Amerta Ponggok Batik Shirt, Rona Umbul Women’s Vest, Laras Umbul Women’s Vest, Tirta Kencana Ponggok Batik, Lelana Tirta Ponggok Batik, Laras Ponggok Batik, Segara Ponggok Lestari Batik, and Tirta Mina Batik. Each piece presents a unique visual interpretation of the beauty and underwater life of Umbul Ponggok.

The collection was produced as a Final Art Project under the supervision of Dr. Wahyono, M.Sn. Through these nine creations, Nuri successfully translated the visual richness of Umbul Ponggok into women’s fashion and textile media. The project served as one of the academic requirements for obtaining a Bachelor of Education degree in the Craft Education Study Program at FBSB UNY.

Wahyono praised the work, noting that it demonstrates a student’s ability to transform local potential into craft products with both artistic and educational value. He emphasized that Umbul Ponggok is a tourism icon rich in visual elements and highly suitable as a source of inspiration for batik design development. According to him, the project proves that local tourism assets can be elevated beyond the tourism sector into artworks that carry cultural and economic value. Nuri successfully translated the visual wealth of Umbul Ponggok into innovative batik motifs while preserving its local character and identity.

He further explained that developing batik motifs based on regional potential is an important effort to preserve cultural sustainability while strengthening creative industries rooted in local wisdom. Such an approach is expected to encourage younger generations to appreciate, develop, and preserve batik as part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

This project contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering creativity, research, and artistic innovation through higher education. The work also advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through the creation of women’s apparel products and the empowerment of female students in creative industries. Furthermore, it contributes to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by promoting cultural-based creative entrepreneurship and developing products with economic value. By preserving and promoting local cultural heritage through contemporary artistic expression, the project also supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).