Setting The Stage To Take Indonesian Artists Abroad

Among the performances at IPAM 2009 were “Tari Pinamou & Mahina Arika” by the Siwalima Arts Group of Ambon, Maluku. (Photo: Ali Lutfi, JG)

Solo, Central Java - The 5th Indonesia Performing Art Mart closed on Saturday in Solo after four days of traditional art performances for representatives of cultural theaters and festivals from around the world.

“The buyers are the impresarios of art performances at spectacular theaters throughout the world,” said Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

“They can choose traditional art to take home.”

The opening ceremony was held on Wednesday in the courtyard of the Mangkunegran Palace, and was followed by a series of performing arts shows at the same venue. Performances over the next three days were held at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Surakarta and at the Saya Jahid Hotel.

One of the opening performances was “Tari Kemban & Tari Putri Renayan,” performed by seven female dancers from Lahat, in South Sumatra. The dance traditionally accompanied the procession of a new kepala marga (clan chief) in the area.

Belgian pianist Jean-Francois Maljean, the only foreign performer to take part in IPAM 2009, also gave a solo recital as part of the opening ceremony. For his first performance in Indonesia, he played four songs, including two from his album “Be My Valentine Latino,” which has just been released in the country.

Buyers and representatives from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Japan, France, Singapore, Slovakia, Togo and the United Kingdom attended IPAM 2009. Among them was Klaus Wolfer, the Austrian ambassador to Indonesia.

“We have introduced Balinese gamelan [music] to Austria,” Wolfer said. “Tonight, I want to pick [a] Solonese dance.”

In addition to performances from Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Maluku, the mart featured seminars, networking opportunities and guided excursions to Prambanan Temple and Surakarta City. Nelson Fernandez, director of NFA International Arts and Culture of UK, was keynote speaker at a seminar on “Global-Creative Industries Opportunities” on Thursday.

“In these times, [IPAM‘s] work in promoting understanding between cultures is needed more than ever,” he said.

Tjetjep Suparman, the director general of cultural, art and cinematic virtues at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said the mart was a bridge connecting artists, who need to promote their performances, with the international market.

Jero said he dreamed of Indonesian artists being able to prosper from their loyalty to traditional arts and performances. The country has a myriad of unique traditions in every region, he said, but needed an art network and access to the international market so that each tradition could be appreciated and artists could benefit.

The mart was also a chance for domestic practitioners to learn the traditions of other regions, said Ismeth Inonu, chief of the Lahat Art Board in South Sumatra. “We have the legend of Si Pahit Lidah but we want to know the legends of other regions.”

The closing performances scheduled for Saturday included “Kembang Tablo Dance” by students of Bandung‘s 10th vocational School. The modern dance was adapted by choreographer Elly Laelasari from traditional jaipong dance movements.

“The students are the youngest performers among all the groups,” said Novi Haryani, dance instructor at the school. “The dance describes the beauty of young females that bloom like flowers.” Novi hoped the students would be invited to perform abroad.

Such hopes were encouraged by IPAM project manager Ketut Jaman, who said traditional art could enhance the pride of the country.

“Indonesia is the jewel of the world,” he said.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.com (5 June 2009)

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