YOGYAKARTA - Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta once again added to its ranks of professors through an Open Senate Session held at the Concert Hall ISI Yogyakarta, Tuesday (14/10/2025). Two academics were officially inaugurated as professors, namely Prof. Dr. Prayanto Widyo Harsanto, M.Sn. in the field of Visual Communication Design and Prof. Dr. Junaidi, S.Kar., M.Hum. in the field of Pedalangan. Both delivered scientific orations that reflected the strength of research and deep reflection on the challenges of art, design, and culture today.
In his scientific oration entitled "Visual Communication Design Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Between Aesthetics and Ethics"Prof. Dr. Prayanto Widyo Harsanto, M.Sn. highlighted the importance of ethical awareness in facing the disruption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the world of design and art education.
According to him, Visual Communication Design education is not enough to teach technical skills, but must also foster critical thinking, social sensitivity, and moral responsibility.. "The era of artificial intelligence has changed the way designers work and think. So, design is not only about aesthetics, but also ethics-how visual works benefit people and the environment," he emphasized.
Prof. Dr. Prayanto Widyo Harsanto also emphasized that DKV education needs to be responsive and adaptive to technological developments, in order to produce graduates who are creative, innovative, and have character. "Good design is not only visually beautiful, but also socially meaningful. The task of DKV education is to prepare talents who are able to adapt to technology without losing human values," he said in a scientific oration taken from the results of a long research on the development of DKV education in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Junaidi, S.Kar., M.Hum., in a scientific oration entitled "Wayang Kulit Purwa for Multi-human"He presented the results of research that he has been developing since 1988 until now. He raised the idea that puppetry can be a medium for education, entertainment and character building across ages.
Through the concept of multi-age puppetsProf. Dr. Junaidi, S.Kar., M.Hum introduced four innovative models from his research, namely Wayang Kaper for early childhood (PAUD/TK), Wayang Kidangan for elementary school age, Wayang Jaranan for middle adolescents (SMP), and Wayang Banthèngan for late adolescents (SMA). This model allows the moral, aesthetic and cultural values contained in wayang to be conveyed in a way that suits the developmental stages of children to adults.
"Wayang is not just a spectacle, but a guide. Through age-appropriate formats and expressions, puppets can be an effective and fun medium for character learning," he said. The concept is also considered a sustainable cultural preservation strategy in the midst of changing times.
In his remarks, ISI Yogyakarta Rector, Dr. Irwandi, M.Sn., expressed his appreciation to the two newly inaugurated professors. "This inauguration is not only an individual academic achievement, but also a strengthening of the institution's spirit in building an art scientific tradition that is relevant to the challenges of the times," he said.
The inauguration of these two professors is an important momentum for ISI Yogyakarta in emphasizing its role as an art education institution that inspires, serves, and innovates for humanity. Through their research and thinking, it is clear that art is not only an aesthetic expression, but also a means of ethics and social transformation.
From ethical design to wayang that educates across generations, these two professors have reinforced the universal message that art is a mirror of humanity and civilization.
The Open Senate Session was attended by the leadership of ISI Yogyakarta, members of the Academic Senate, lecturers, students, and invited guests from various art universities in Indonesia. The event was solemn and reflective, marking an important momentum for ISI Yogyakarta in emphasizing its position as a leading higher education institution for the arts in Indonesia.
EN 
ID