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Bali
Arts Festival 2005
(13 Foreign Art
Troupes)
Travelers,
both foreign and domestic, that visit Bali
around June and July this year can enjoy
dual attractions. As well as being able
to see the panorama of current Bali and
interact with local inhabitants, they can
also watch the Bali Arts Festival (BAF)
that takes place for a month. The arts festival
this year is evidence that all Balinese
are artists. In the morning and at noon,
they work at various sectors (as civil servants,
farmers, workers in building or road construction),
while in the evening they are praginas (artists)
that are good at dancing and playing gamelan.
said that Australian government should be
wise and did not ratify the travel warning
hurriedly. “Indonesia, especially Bali,
has mutual benefit relations, mutual completion
and unforgettable romanticism, even Australians
consider this island of thousands temples
their second home,” he recalled.
That matter, according to Antara, could
be proved by the fact that many citizens
of the kangaroo country select Bali as their
field of business operation and residence.
Similarly, the existence of bilateral cooperation
between the police of the Republic of Indonesia
with the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
is evidence of relationship intimacy of
both countries. “If travel advisory
stays validated it means that the Australian
government does not believe in its own apparatus,”
said Antara. However, his party is confident
that the travel advisory will be withdrawn
within weeks considering that relationship
romanticism of both countries is just like
twin brothers that complete each other.
The 27th Bali Arts Festival (BAF) 2005 takes
place starting from Saturday 18 June to
Saturday 16 July is a bit different from
that of previous years. BAF 2005 that taking
the theme ‘Sang Kala’ (appreciation
to the time), apart from being participated
by artists (old, young and children) from
seven regencies and one municipality all
over Bali, it will also be jazzed up by
13 foreign art troupes (from 8 countries)
and 16 art troupes from outside Bali. “In
addition, the art performance is not only
carried out at Taman Budaya (Art Center)
Denpasar but dispersed throughout some regencies
in Bali. The opportunity of performing modern
arts is given moderately great portions,”
said the Head of Bali Cultural Service,
Drs. I Nyoman Nikanaya, M.M. to Bali Travel
News.
These foreign art troupes are from Prince
of Songkhla University of Pattani Campus
(Thailand), One People Voice Oakland (USA),
Apsara Asia (Singapore), Gamelan Galatikta
by Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Composer Evan Ziporyn (USA), MIT Boston
Group (USA), Indian Cultural Center Bali,
Shakespeare Tempest by Ron Jenkin (USA),
Iriantos Arts (Papua Nugini), Sekar Sakura
Nagoya (Japan), Arts Participation of Thailand
by Thailand Consulate in Bali, foreign students
that study at the Indonesian Institute of
Arts (ISI) Denpasar, Contemporary Dance
by Sutasoma Foundation “Institution
for Performing Arts Humanity and Environment”
(Japan) and American Situbondo Group (USA).
In the meantime, art participation from
outside Bali is recorded 16 groups of 10
provinces namely the Greater Jakarta, Central
Java, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, West
Java, Yogyakarta, Banten, East Java and
West Sumatera. According to Nikanaya, BAF
persistently refers to the five mains activities
namely parade, performance, competition,
discussion and exhibition. Each regency
and city in Bali is obliged to present typical,
classical and social arts. Similarly, there
is Gong Kebyar Festival that has become
the prima donna of the community in Bali.
Gianyar Regency presents typical arts of
Semar Pagulingan Troupe and Calonarang,
Gambuh classic/traditional dance and Janger
social dance. Karangasem Regency: Gebug
Ende (typical), Gambuh (Classic) and Genjek
Kadong Iseng (social). Badung Regency: Parwa
Agung (typical), Wayang Wong (classic) and
Janger Mas Alit (social). Denpasar Municipality:
Sekar Jempiring Dance (Mascot of Denpasar),
Classic Legong as typical arts of Denpasar,
Classic Gamelan Composition and non-dramatic
dance of Gladag style as classic art and
Joged Bumbung (social art).
Buleleng Regency presents the typical arts
of Gong Kebyar Troupe of Tista, Gambuh of
Bungkulan Village (classic) and Janger Creation
(social). Klungkung Regency: Baris Jangkrang
Dance (typical), Gandrung (classic) and
Janger (social). Jembrana Regency: Jegog
Creation (typical), Tembang or Wirama Gede
and Baris Dance (typical) and Joged Bumbung
(social). Bangli Regency: Gong Gede and
Baris Dance (typical), Wayang Wong (classic)
and Joged Bumbung (social). Tabanan Regency:
Tektekan (typical), Baris Cerekuak (classic)
and Joged Bumbung (social). (BTN/Budarsana)
Balinese Making Arts
Your
holiday to Bali will be more special in
this month. Apart from enjoying the nature
of Bali and interacting with its inhabitants,
you can also watch the Bali Arts Festival
(BAF) that takes place for a month. This
annual event has been performed since 27
years ago. This activity, as the anthropologist
Miguel Covarrubias says, can be evidence
that all Balinese people are artists. In
the morning and at noon they work in various
sectors—civil officers, farmers, and
worker in building or road construction—while
in the evening they are pragina (artists)
that are good at dancing and playing gamelan.
Probably, some of them even entertain you
at hotels or other tourist objects in the
evening.
The theme of BAF this year is Sang Kala
(Lord that organizes the movement of time
cycle). This theme will delineate to you
that the Balinese are bound in three points
of time namely atita (past), wartamana (present)
and anagata (future). How is the existence
of Balinese arts in the past, its current
development in keeping with the condition
of Bali as tourism destination can be seen
at BAF. Of course, BAF does not only present
art performances and exhibitions of arts
articles, but there are also seminars or
discussions that examines the past, present
and future of Balinese art.
Except for that, BAF involves artists and
the Balinese community from the oldies,
adults, youngsters and children as a reflection
of circular movement of the Balinese culture
from the past, present and future.
The late cultural observer Ida Bagus Mantra
initiated BAF when he was the governor of
Bali. It aimed at preserving the Balinese
arts and culture that is inspired by Hinduism.
In addition, BAF constitutes a medium for
the young generation to recognize and know
more about Balinese arts and culture.
As a world tourist destination, BAF activity
in Bali is expected to have the capability
of being one major tourist attraction. By
tourist visits its expected that the creativity
of Balinese community will flourish in creating
various kinds of arts and eventually be
able to improve their standard of life.
The time of BAF execution is chosen June-July
because it is a long school holiday and
high season for foreign tourists. BAF 2005
takes place on 18 June-16 July. The Art
Center Denpasar, BAF programs are also dispersed
throughout the regencies and cities all
over Bali. Hence, wherever you go in Bali
you still can watch the BAF.
Stiffened
with Cultural Activity
How can the Balinese can be so stiffened
with art creati-vity? This matter is inseparable
from the existence of Balinese predecessors
from time immemorial that had instincts
to always improve their civilization. Various
historical remains that today become tourist
objects prove that Balinese arts and culture
grows variously in accordance with the demands
of Balinese human life that constitutes
gratitude on God’s generosity. They
also maintain their life harmony with nature
and reinforce the menyama braya (brotherhood)
relationship in the life of social community.
As farmers for instance, in achieving spiritual
and bodily balance, they venerate the Goddess
Sri as the symbol of fecundity. Or a fisherman
that relies on the sea will worship the
Lord Varuna, Lord of wind and so forth that
can ensure the safety of their life. Similarly,
it is also accompanied with recital of mantra
that can summon psychic spirit that has
been believed to come true.
Starting from the manifestation of such
bhakti (gratitude) was born artistic paraphernalia
as a ritual complement of Hindu like the
art of painting, dancing, architecture,
sculpture and so forth. Just have a look
at the sanctum (temple and shrine) must
have been full of artistic ornament.
In the past, the function of arts was more
emphasized on the interest of religious
ceremonies, either at temples or royal palaces.
The art of dancing, playing gamelan and
painting for instance, presented to accompany
the ritual procession, painting for temple
ornaments, royal residences and the house
of punggawa (royal official of high rank).
Thus, artists can understand the secret
of work conception as presentation and work
as medium to make them closer to the Almighty
God.
Balinese artists, from time immemorial have
implemented the essence of work as manifestation
of yajna (holy sacrifice). Painting, dancing,
playing gamelan, sculpting, carving, mekidung-mewirama
(chanting a Hindu hymn or sacred text) is
one form of sincere devotion to God, to
their leader and to the community. By implementing
the concept of this yajna, the artists of
the past never mentioned their name personally
in works of arts. They were more tolerant
that put priority on togetherness or the
Balinese express it in expression: asah-asih-asuh,
paras-paros-sarpanaya, sagilik-saguluk-salunglung-sabayantaka
that essentially puts forward the principles
of togetherness and harmony as mandated
in the tri hita karana concept.
Therefore, it is found many anonymous works
of art as Balinese traditional fine arts
that was more communal and so are the art
of dancing and playing gamelan that are
presented on the occasion of rituals at
temples or other sanctums. On the performance,
the dancers experience trance as if they
were penetrated by psychic powers.
Today, the Balinese make art creativity
not only intended for the needs of ritual
at temple or sanctum but also for tourist
entertainment. Dissimilar forms of Balinese
arts grow and develop following the dynamic
of the tourism industry.
Several art items as mass products are made
to cater the needs of tourism. Its price
can be inexpensive at art shop or tourist
objects provided that you are good at bargaining.
Just as the making of a number of creation
dances with movement and modern technological
touch that are really inappropriate to be
presented at temples or sacred place. Sometimes,
the paileh (storyline) of the dance and
gamelan that is presented at hotel or tourism
object are cut to be adjusted with the short
time visits of tourist and hotel party’s
can pay the artists cheaply.
Do not be surprised if you see Balinese
artists leaving for hotel’s transported
by truck or some may ride motorbikes in
ready-to-show costume as their art creativity
is paid less so they cannot afford transport
that is more convenient. Nowadays, the government
of Bali Province has tried to make an effort
in order for Balinese artists that make
a show at hotel’s get reasonable honorarium
and good facility of transport even though
this endeavor has not indicated a pleasurable
result yet.
Three
Functions of Arts
Balinese arts are generally classified into
three: (1) wali arts, special sacred arts
that are earmarked for ritual purpose and
may not be performed at any places like
Wayang Lemah, Sidakarya Mask, Sang Hyang
Dedari and so on; (2) bebali art, namely
arts that are staged at jaba pura (outermost
courtyard of the temple) in relation to
complete the ritual procession and entertain
the devotees that carry out the ceremony—the
artists are totally ngayah (without honorarium),
they are just provided with food and drink;
(3) balih-balihan art, namely art that is
staged that has not something to do with
the ritual and merely intended for entertainment
like art performed at hotels, village meeting
halls or arenas of Bali Arts Festival. The
artists received reasonable honorarium.
Prior to the performance, they make an agreement
on honorarium with the organizing committee.
At the BAF arena, miscellaneous elements
of Balinese arts and cultures can be found.
Assuredly, it pertains to the theme of BAF
that concerns with the history and existence
of the current arts and its preservation
in the future.
The festival, apart from being participated
by all components of the Balinese community,
also involves the participation of foreign
artists (that of the United States, Japan,
Italy and so forth). Arts parade and the
opening of BAF on the upcoming 18 June will
take place in front of the Bajra Sandhi
Monument, Renon Denpasar at 14.00 Local
Time. Make sure that you obtain the correct
information from your tour guide in order
that you can watch the Bali Arts Festival
during your vacation in Bali. Hopefully,
your vacation will be pleasurable and memorable.
Wishing you happy watching! (Ketut Sumadi)
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