The Ethnicity of Nias in the Creative Exploration of Art Painting of North Sumatera

This article studied the ethnicity expressions in the creation of art painting through the exploration of the visual culture of Nias. The exploration was realized creatively on rubber dimension formed by the heat conductor. The purpose of this study is to develop a peculiar and unique shape of fine arts in North Sumatera so that it can enrich the local and national treasure of visual culture. This study employed to survey and creative creation method. The testing of the result of the creation was conducted through the assessment of competent critics and the appreciative feedback of the observers and the community. The data analysis was done using the quantitative and qualitative descriptive method. The result of this study showed that the characteristic of Nias visual culture as the basis of art painting development, in general, was decorative and mythical. The rubber media as a “tafril” area with a heat conductor was quite effective to explore the real texture and relief image, as well as to present artistic effect when exposed by light. Based on the critics and the observers’ appreciative feedback, the creation had already had an intraaesthetic and extra-aesthetic quality, uniquenes, and strong characteristic, so that it contributes to the enrichment of local and national culture. Keywords— ethnicity, creative exploration, art painting