Urban Tourism: The Mapping and Analysis of the Visual Characteristics of Murals in the Prawirotaman Area of Yogyakarta
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37278/artcomm.v9i1.1499Keywords:
Mural, Visual Mapping, Mural Typology, Tourist Area, Visual CommunicationAbstract
Mural as a form of public visual art has developed significantly in urban spaces and plays a role in shaping the visual character of city environments. Murals are frequently linked to the development of place identity and aesthetic appeal in tourist destinations. The purpose of this study is to map and examine the visual features of murals in Yogyakarta's Prawirotaman neighborhood as part of a visual depiction of an urban tourism region. The study uses a qualitative descriptive methodology that is bolstered by straightforward quantitative mapping. Direct observation and photographic documentation were used to gather data, which led to the identification of 66 murals with distinct visual presence. Independent graffiti expressions, socially focused murals, and commercially oriented murals were the three main categories into which the murals were divided. Formal components like color, composition, illustration style, and typography were used in visual analysis along with a semiotic method to decipher visual meaning. The results show that the majority of murals are dominated by non-commercial expressions, indicating an organic visual landscape shaped by informal artistic practices. Meanwhile, commercial murals appear in limited numbers and are mainly associated with business identities. The coexistence of these categories creates a layered visual environment that reflects both artistic freedom and functional communication. This study concludes that murals in Prawirotaman contribute to the visual complexity of the area and serve as an indicative element in representing the character of a tourism district. The findings provide an initial framework for understanding mural-based visual mapping in urban design and communication studies.
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