Karangasem, On the Wallace Line

A.A. Aju Sasih, SH
Karangasem’s Versatile Artist

A.A. Aju Sasih, SH is familiar indeed among the artistic community in Karangsem Regency. Her love of art has grown continually and inherited among generations in Puri (residence of a noble family). Aju has three children and was born on the 19th September 1951, and since second class Elementary School, she learnt how to dance. Not only dancing, Sasih is also versed in national literature, music and fine arts, Javanese song, carving fruit and flower arranging. In the area of national literacy, reading poetry is one of her talents. Since 1965 until February, 2004, the result of her works were often declared as the winner and carried in the Bali Post newspaper.
When in Junior School, she joined with a Janger dance group named Janger ‘ LKN’ and Drama Gong group directed by Ida Wayan Pidada and I Dewa Gede Raka. From that moment, she often performed Balinese dances extending to the island of Lombok. At one stage she accompanied a mission of Indonesia artists to the Artistry Festival of All-Asia in Iran / Persia and India (1969).
Because of her deep love of cultural art, especially Balinese dance, Sasih continued her schooling at KOKAR Denpasar. She is very fluent in playing the rebab (Balinese traditional violin) and flute and is often assigned as a trainer of sekeha (group) Gong Margatelu in Karangasem. In 1968, this sekaa joined the Gong Kebyar Festival at province level and came out winners.

Sasih’s Masterwork
As a creative artist, she has produced many works. In 1970, she became involved in the forming of a children’s Drama Gong at SMPN 1 Karangasem together with a Sekehe Gong Selumbung Village, Manggis Sub district, in 1973, making the sendratari of Ramayana joining with the student Sekeha Gong of the Senior High School in Karangasem as well as the School of PGA Hindu, Karangasem. In 1972, Sasih formed the dance studio named Widia Winangun Amlapura that succeed in producing yielding stage dancers that were capable in performance at the Bali Arts Festival (BAF). They also often staged in Australia and Hong Kong. A loose dance entitled the Wiadi Karana Dance (Dance of the Fly) was created in 1973. She also created the song of dolanan Maplekuncung (1990) and Medengkleng Kepyak (1991). The song of dolanan Sehat Asri was created when she performed at the BAF in 1992. There are many other of Sasih’s masterworks, for example: the making of Balinese Pop songs, Indonesian songs for children and adults, and skill of making the garnish/dish decoration from assorted fruits.
Sasih was declared 1st winner appreciation of Balinese dance art (Tenun Dance), appreciation as a fashion jurist at the BAF of Karangasem Regency, 2nd winner guest for desk decoration from dry leaf combinations and traditional flowers in 1995, and many other achievements that have been gained by this Head of Consideration and Culture Development Council of Karangsem.
(BTN/ 033)