PakarBaut, Humor Lovers in Northern Bali

At this moment in time, it is sometimes hard for one to laugh. Happenings that are covered by journalists then written down in newspapers or magazines, or aired on television make most people feel uncomfortable. Moreover, the latest news on the rising price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) crazily, or the rising price of oil that pretends to take up cudgels for the poor. All of those make most people’s hearts snivel. Laughing becomes somewhat difficult recently and goes along being costly.

Probably, since people find it hard to laugh so they become hot-tempered. Obvious furiousness is not based on certain rational thinking any longer and will assuredly result in worsening impact. The occurrence of riots, vandalism, incineration and other negative actions were provoked by the absence of a sense of humor that make them be easily insulted and touchy.
Based on that reason, Wied N, a cartoonist, established an organization of cartoon’s lovers called PakarBaut in Singaraja city. Its pioneering efforts are begun at the campus of the State Teacher’s Training College (IKIP) Singaraja since as a lecturer it is easier to gather its member there namely from the students of the Fine Arts Department. PakarBaut stands for Pecinta Kartun Bali Utara or Cartoon Lover of Northern Bali. Here, it is intended for not merely the union of cartoonists, but also the organization of those who like cartoon pictures specifically, and humor in general. The reason why Northern Bali is appointed as the base camp, apart from socializing laugh and laughing at people, is also to balance the power of cartoons, especially with southern Bali.
As it is already been known that, the development of cartoons in Northern Bali is nearly inaudible. This old city that once became the capital of Bali, in the news is always associated with terrific things and was awarded the epithet of the ‘hot city’. Different from southern Bali with its capital in Denpasar, the activity of cartoonists is happy. Cartoon exhibitions, either in-group or solo, are frequently held. In northern Bali, there were cartoonist brothers who formerly worked up to the national forum, but recently cartoons of Tony Tantra and Benny Tantra have never come into view in newspapers.
PakarBaut was declared on Monday located at the lowland campus of the state IKIP of Singaraja on the 22 December 2004. Temporarily, its members consisted of local students of Art Education. However, lately it gives the opportunity for other students from other facultiies to join. It is planned that one day PakarBaut will have a working division like publishing, cartooning, et cetera. Each division has a different task but is still in the chain of the same interest.
On that occasion was present the Department Head of Fine Arts Education, Drs. Jajang Suryana, MSn., in which in his introduction message emphasized the importance of humor for humans in behavior, speech and presentation. It is expected that this humor organization is not just a courtesy, and after that losing its life, but can flourish incessantly and grow bigger. On that occasion, Mr. Jajang as Department Head of Fine Arts Education was appointed to the Advisory Board of PakarBaut, while Nala Antara holds its chairmanship.
Its working program is carried out for the sake of member’s interests and is the learning of cartoon drawing along with its problems. It is important and necessary in order that in a relatively short time PakarBaut could produce quality cartoonists in a humor context that would be scheduled and led by cartoonist Wied N and Nala Antara. Other urgent agenda is the publishing of a “PakarBaut” magazine as an intermember communication medium. It is also significant to accommodate the works of its members in the shape of articles and humorous drawings. Other activities are performing cartoon exhibitions in Singaraja. According to Nala Antara, in his capacity of elected Chairman of PakarBaut, this activity may be able to run in three months. Meanwhile, other activities are still under discussion. (BTN/Gung Man)