Art Exhibition Entitled "Art Paladin" at Rudana Museum

Commemorating the 61st Anniversary of the Independence Day of Indonesia, the Rudana Museum held an art exhibition. Numerous works of art, ranging from photos, paintings to poetry readings and dances were staged there. The exhibition was also associated with the 11th anniversary of Rudana Museum.

Works of photography on show were that of Asrian Mirza that won a UNICEF award taking the theme the Children of Papua, while the paintings were the works of 17 best painters of Indonesia. Meanwhile, the art of poetry was read by Warih Wisatsana and dance staged by students of the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) Denpasar.
This current exhibition entitled ‘the Art Paladin’ presented the works of 17 maestros of Indonesia comprising Affandi, Antonio Blanco, Bagong Kussudiarjo, Basuki Abdullah, Dullah, Ida Bagus Made, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, I Gusti Ketut Kobot, I Nyoman Made Tusan, I Wayan Taweng, O.H. Soepono, PN Wardhana, Roedyat M, Sudarso and S. Toyo. Other than these 17 maestros of Indonesia, Warih Wisatsana, a young poet, presented his poetry to the paladins of art having come up with their meritorious merit to develop the arts of Indonesia, particularly in the domain of fine arts.
The exhibition of this Art Paladin will last up to October 01, 2006 and be open to public. "Hopefully, the activity of this exhibition will be able to encourage the enthusiasm of the young painters of Indonesia to work," observed Nyoman Rudana, the owner and founder of Rudana Museum. (BTN/*)

After having successfully accomplished contemporary dance performances in last April, "On Stage" was coming again to present its other exclusive and attractive art performances. In the past few days, it came with a Batavian art performance entitled "Anak Naga Beranak Naga" (Dragon Begets Dragon). The performance was held at the Cultural Theatre open stage, at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, Wednesday (23/8) evening and presented a documentary film on Gambang Kromong traditional music, Batavian dance and Batavian Keroncong music.

The performance was intended to trace back the history of cultural heritage diversity (tangible and intangible culture). It was by considering that during the last four centuries, Batavia (now Jakarta) has been visited endlessly by new heterogeneous migrants.
Genesis of Batavian culture came about through migrants as mentioned above like the Sundanese, Javanese, Balinese, Mollucas, Malay, Chinese, Dutch and Arabian. Their culture assimilated one another and coalesced into one just like a ‘melting pot’ and became the Batavian community. A new Indonesian race, namely Eurasian Culture, came into existence and created Batavian arts comprising ondel-ondel (papier mâché-like effigy), ronggeng mask dance, sambrah, rebana, gambang kromong, keroncong tugu, tanjidor, Batavian puppet theatre and so forth. All grew spontaneously and turned to become Batavian folk art, an intangible heritage that is worth conserving.
Looked on by hundreds of spectators, both locals and foreigners, the performance was begun by the display of a documentary film entitled "Anak Naga Beranak Naga." This film was composed by Ariani Darmawan describing the people of Chinese-born that still maintained the heritage of gambang kromong music, known as the most adaptive art. This unique ensemble is a perfect blend between Indonesian and Chinese instruments that have gradually passed from community’s sight. Gambang kromong reminds us of the struggle of life of an open culture and it remains to truthfully maintain its uniqueness and identity.
The performance was resumed with live music of Batavian Keroncong music and Lenggong None dance one after another. Keroncong originates and develops in Java under the profound influence of Portuguese making use of ukelele and other stringed musical instruments. One of the developed keroncong styles is called ‘Javanese melody’ by means of applying rhythmical model sounding like gamelan music.
The exhilarated performance of that evening also put into show some musical instruments like guitar, violin, modern flute, cello (taking over the role of gamelan music) and bass (replacing gong). Composition of these instruments accompanied some keroncong songs chanted by Seti and Frans.
In the meantime, the dance Lenggang None literally meaning ‘The Swaying Maidens’ is a typical Batavian dance. A number of Batavian dances also got influence from Chinese culture that is discernible from its costume and musical accompaniment. While, the Cokek dance that came into view on account of influence from Balinese culture, observable from the movement of the dancer and the style of its gamelan composition. (BTN/tar)

With regard to the commemoration of the 28 anniversary of Bali Art Center (Taman Budaya Bali in Denpasar), a modern style painting exhibition was held entitled ‘Profile Exhibition of Taman Budaya Bali’. The exhibition took place last 11-25 August at its Kriya Building.

The head of the Art Center, Mr. Dewa Putu Beratha highly appreciated this painting exhibition. It came in a realization of the annual programme of the Art Center / Taman Budaya and at the same time as an anniversary celebration of the institution that was founded in 1978. "At that time, the Bali Art Center / Taman Budaya was officially appointed the centre of activity of the annual Bali Arts Festival," he stated.
Governor of Bali then, the late Ida Bagus Mantra, initiated the establishment of the Taman Budaya / Art Center. It was intended to become the hub of development, preservation and stage of arts and culture of Bali and beyond.
Mr. Dewa Putu Beratha stated in his preface speech on the opening of the exhibition that modern painting underwent rapid growth these days, either in terms of its quantity of the painters or quality of their works. For that reason, the Taman Budaya / Art Center gave the opportunity to the painters in order they could express the atmosphere of Taman Budaya and its surroundings on their canvas. "Make this venue an inspiration and object of painting and exhibit those works here," he appealed.
The 15 painters participating in the exhibition were: Supena, Wirawan, Romi Sukadana, Putu Purwa, Budi Adnyana, Sudana Koplek, Galung Wiratmaja, Gunawan, Naya Suanta, Tut Teler, Muliana, Ngurah Made Aryana, Sugantika, Endrawan and Agung Oka. (BTN/Yan Beryas)

Souvenir from Tenganan Village
Book Made from "Lontar" Leaf

When you take a trip to eastern Bali, try to visit Tenganan Pegeringsingan Village, 70 km northeast of Denpasar. There, you can purchase some unique souvenirs made from lontar (palm) leaf.
Tenganan Pegeringsingan Village is known as Bali Aga Village (the natives of Bali) that continues to maintain its ancient traditions up to now. Some of their activities reflect the ancient elements, namely during the period before the arrival of Majapahitan Hindu influence (11th-14th Century) from Java. For instance, they remain to utilize lontar leaf to write on. On the pieces of such lontar leaf, they write a variety of references from epic stories to awig-awig (legislation of customary village). They still seem to keep the medium of lontar leaf in existence as ancient human did when paper was not invented yet.
Handicraft of lontar leaf at this village can be purchased and made into souvenir. There are several kinds of lontar books, while also the allurement of paintings and calligraphy can be encountered there. Similarly, you could find Balinese calendars, comics on epic Ramayana and Mahabharata, painting of Balinese dancer and god-goddess theme like Lord Ganesh, Goddess Saraswati and so on depending on the imagination and creativity of its creator.
A set of lontar book, commonly consists of 5 to 15 pieces of lontar leaf (pages). They complete the books ranging from a couple of days up to 40 days, highly depending on its type and level of difficulty (pertaining to the method of its making, simply read: Comics on Lontar Leaf). "If required, I can mention the name of its purchaser on the copy of lontar book he selected," described Putu Astawa, a young boy who installs his table in front of the village meeting hall.
As souvenir, the price of this lontar-leaf handicraft varies, depending on its quality. "I offer the price at IDR 50,000 to IDR 500,000. By and large, the comics on Ramayana epic are sold t IDR 350,000. However, this price is still negotiable," said Parwata who has been involved in this lontar handicraft for some 15 years.
Selling price of a set of lontar book made by Mudita consisting of 15 pieces of leaf can reach USD 200. He also added, since the lontar book of his work was purchased by foreign guests, the lontar handicraft at Tenganan village grows rapidly. "Thenceforth, many young people were back to deeply involve in writing and painting on the lontar leaf for souvenir," he told Bali Travel News. (BTN/tar)