Ancient pottery tradition survives in Cirebon<\/p>\n
By Mulkan Salmona<\/p>\n
CIREBON, West Java (JP): Sitiwinangun is just one of any
\nnumber of small and anonymous villages, 15 kilometers east of
\nCirebon.<\/p>\n
But, only a few people know that the village is an ancient
\ncenter for the production of precious and unique earthenware and
\nceramic pottery with distinguished designs.<\/p>\n
Every morning, a number of elderly men and women engross
\nthemselves in their habitual work -- producing household
\nutensils.<\/p>\n
The 60-year-old strongly muscled Sarinten looks gorgeous. Her
\narms are still strong enough to fetch buckets of clay from the
\nnearby river. She carefully mixes clay and sand. A skillful
\nartisan, the grandmother shapes the clay into various shapes and
\nsizes.<\/p>\n
In a different corner of the village, another old woman, Mbok
\nWasmi, is busy polishing a clay pot using a piece of wood, while
\nher feet keep rotating a traditional potter's wheel.<\/p>\n
An old man vigorously makes a man-sized water urn. To decorate
\nthe clay container, he carves certain designs and motifs on its
\nsides.<\/p>\n
Despite the laborious and time-consuming work involved, people
\nrarely appreciate the value of the villages products. Each item
\ncosts only between a few hundred and several thousand rupiah.<\/p>\n
To many villagers in Sitiwinangunan, producing pottery is more
\nthan just a profession. It has been a centuries-old tradition
\nwhich they have faithfully preserved up to the present day.<\/p>\n
Ceramic artist Bonzan Eddy Rochasli Adisetyo said that based
\non the existing designs using floral and animal motifs such as
\nthe jasmine flower, tumpal and sulur, (types of root), untu
\nwalang (grasshoppers), Cirebon pottery might have its origins in
\nthe pre-historic age.<\/p>\n
\"It is a pity that we have no records or evidence to support
\nthis theory. We may need further study on Cirebon pottery,\"
\nBonzan said.<\/p>\n
Presently, the village's potters, mostly the elderly, produce
\nsimple and rough pottery for household needs, like water jugs,
\nrice containers, cups and vases using painstaking traditional
\ntechniques.<\/p>\n
It has long been believed that anyone who wants to enter the
\npottery-making business must undergo a series of rituals. He\/she
\nmust walk around the sacred tomb belonging to Ki Jagabaya three
\ntimes carrying stones. While performing this ritual, the person
\nmust hold his or her breath. If he\/she manages to carry a big
\nstone, it means that he\/she will be able to produce large items.
\nOn the other hand, if he\/she is only able to carry smaller
\nstones, it is his\/her destiny to produce small items.<\/p>\n
As times change, many villagers, especially the youth, have
\nstarted to abandon this tradition.<\/p>\n
Technological development has already penetrated the life of
\nthese decent people. Some members of the village's younger
\ngeneration have proven that the ritual is not all true. Many of
\nthem have not yet performed the ritual, yet have already mastered
\nthe art of pottery making.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the help of a dedicated foundation and Bonzan, many
\nof the local youth have been encouraged to acquire the skills and
\ntalents of their ancestors in creating artistic pottery.<\/p>\n
\"Most of the local artisans are old, while the members of the
\nvillage's young work force prefer to make ends meet in the big
\ncities. We are afraid that Cirebon pottery could become history,\"
\nsaid Bonzan.<\/p>\n
To motivate the youth to enter the pottery industry, in l991
\nBonzan decided to move his ceramics studio from Bandung to
\nSitiwinangunan village.<\/p>\n
\"I have learned a lot about pottery-making from them and have
\nonly helped them modify the designs so as to make their products
\nmore market-oriented,\" said Bonzan, a graduate of the Fine Arts
\nDepartment of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).<\/p>\n
Sitiwinangunan's youth should be proud of their products. In
\naddition to producing traditional Cirebon-style pottery, they are
\nalso able to produce contemporary ceramic products with eye-
\ncatching designs.<\/p>\n
\"I challenged them to show off their talents in Jakarta, and
\nthey enthusiastically welcomed the idea,\" said the artist.<\/p>\n
Bonzan will bring their creations to be displayed at Kompas's
\nBentara Budaya center in Jakarta in the middle of February.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ancient-pottery-tradition-survives-in-cirebon-1447893297",
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