The National Film Month (BFN) event has returned, organized by the Jakarta Arts Council Kineforum. This will last for the entire month of March in order to welcome National Film Day on March 30. The theme is a follow-up to the previous theme in 2007, which was “History is Now”. Although it has a similar same theme, the BFN has selected different kinds of movies. The BFN expects people to realize that Sinematek Indonesia is the only movie archive that is filled with Indonesian history.
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There are two kinds of ikat (woven textiles) in East Sumba — hinggi, which is intended for use by men, and lawu, a songket (embroidered piece) or sarong made of fabric interwoven with gold or silver thread for women. Aside from being used as items of clothing worn daily, these two types of textiles play an important role in the social and cultural lives of people in East Sumba. As a local tradition, hinggi and lawu are exchanged during marriage rituals, used in funerals and kept as a souvenirs. A hinggi is also used to wrap a dead body. According to the beliefs of the local Marapu people, a hinggi stops the spread of odor from a dead body, while the high quality fabric serves as “the deceased’s clothing in the afterlife”.
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The capital Jakarta will be the staging grounds for a series of cultural events during the Amazing Batavia 2008 festival, kicking off May 30. In line with Jakarta’s 481st anniversary on June 22, one of the festival’s organizing executives, Nurilah Evi Yanti, said the event would bring a mix of cultures to Jakarta. The event, expected to cost more than Rp 1 billion (US$110,000), is under the direction of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) and a number of organizations, including the Association of Mutual Assistance, the Betawi Society and the Betawi Culture Institution.
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An upcoming exhibition showcasing more than 100 samples of antique fabrics from around the country — including batik, embroidery and woven pieces — promises a rare and exquisite experience for textile lovers. The main highlight of the exhibition, titled Adi Wastra Nusantara or the Showcase of Traditional Textiles of the Archipelago, will offer the rare opportunity to get a closer look at precious fabrics belonging to some of the country’s leading collectors. The exhibition, scheduled to be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will take place on April 16-20 at Balai Sidang Senayan exhibition hall in Central Jakarta. The event will celebrate the 100th anniversary of National Awakening Day and welcome the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program.
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World “wayang” (puppet show) and ethnic music of the ASEAN region will highlight the 30th Bali Art Festival (PKB) from June 14 to July 12, 2008 in Denpasar. Positive response from overseas art workers has been given to the international wayang show which is to be the first of its kind in the Bali Art Festival. I Made Santha said at least five countries had confirmed their participation in the world wayang show to highlight the annual art festival in the Indonesian island resort of Bali for one month.
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The vast archipelagic nation of Indonesia is blessed with a wealth of indigenous cultures that stretch across from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam to Papua. So diverse and various is Indonesian culture that the national slogan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — “Unity in Diversity” — is an apt reflection of this plurality. One art form that is part of this richness is the wayang (traditional puppetry), influenced by Hinduism, and the history of which can be traced as far back as the 9th Century in Indonesia.
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Each island and, relevant town or city within those islands has their own batik design. These are easily recognisable. In most cases, these designs (pola) have significant meaning. In Balinese religious ceremonies flowers and offerings are ritually essential elements. Flowers, used as a means of communication between them and the Gods exist everywhere – in the designs of the Hindu pura’s (temples), in plaited material, clothes and batik paintings. Also, flowers are used as a means of welcoming guests they respect. For the Balinese, flowers are the heavenly plants that are most suitably offered to …
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It was a drizzly afternoon and 42-year-old Umbu Anton sat idly by the corridor of the main gateway into Waingapu market. Lengths of ikat (woven textiles) from East Sumba lay neatly in a pile in front of him, while other textiles he was selling hung displayed on the wall behind him. Most of the woven fabrics had horse, skull, crocodile or dog motifs. Next to Umbu Anton, Umbu Jonathan was also selling textiles, which were laid out in a similar fashion. Anton and Jonathan have been selling ikat for more than ten years; the profits feed their families and send their children to school.
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Tourism industry in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, was preparing programs and activities to support the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 and to give the best services to tourists visiting the city. Travel agent, hotel, and restaurant businessmen as well as tourist resort managers are committed to supporting the Visit Indonesia Year 2008.
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The word empu or grandmaster craftsman in Javanese relates to someone with a deep understanding of life and whose craftsmanship is unquestionable — both in its technical and spiritual aspects. The works of an empu are not only valuable due to their high quality in terms of materials, design and the engineering, but also sacred because of the spiritual experience the empu has to go through to create it.
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