Klungkung, Ancient Kingdoms

Men Miskin, Versatile Artist

His age does not restrict Men Miskin to stopping her dedication for her village. Men Miskin is one of Klungkung’s old artists who can be proud of many achievements and accreditations. She was born in 1923. Now, at 80 of age, she is still faithfully active in arts, even though not as best as in her teen age. Men Miskin spring from Sangging sub village, Kamasan village, Klungkung regency. This village is about 2 Km from Semarapura, the capital of Klungkung or about 44 km from Denpasar.
Men Miskin is a figure of versatile artist. She always sings for Kidung-kidung Warga Sari (a holy song contain of praise to God, as the ritual ceremony mediator) if there is a ritual ceremony at Pura Desa. She is also as Kidung Warga Sari trainer.
As the kidung trainer, this energetic grandmother is also famed as tukang banten (a person who made for ceremony material) of all of banten types, from the basic level of banten (offering) until the greatest level, such as Ngaben (Cremation ceremony in Bali).
As the Kamasan villager that is renowned for its traditional puppet painting, Men Miskin is also famous as the painter who is skilled in puppet painting. Not just expertise in painting a canvas, she is also skilled in dancing, especially of Janger dance (youth sociality dance), and the sacred Rejang dance, etc. When she was young, she was often invited by Klungkung royalty relative to dance at the keraton (palace).
As a versatile artist, she learnt as an autodidact. She cannot read and write, but she frequently learned and memorized the kidung song inscription. “When listenening, learning and practicing it frequently, I was able to master kidung Panca Yadnya,” she said with soft voice.
Besides that, her parents were also an artisan. Her father famed as topeng (mask) dancer in Klungkung and frequent around in Bali. Her father was often requested by Klungkung’s king to dance at the palace. Not only in Bali, her father was also staged frequently at Solo (Central Java). “I inherited this artistic blood from my parents,” she said again. (BTN/033)