Bali's craftsmen hope for better business in 2003<\/p>\n
Tri Vivi Suryani
\nContributor
\nDenpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
I Gusti Ngurah Cakra Yasa looks very sad sitting on the verandah
\nof his workshop in Sedang village of Abiansemal, Badung, some 10
\nkilometers north of Denpasar.<\/p>\n
The craftsman was staring wistfully at the rows of wooden
\nstatues and piles of other handicraft items untouched by
\ncustomers since Bali was hit by terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
The Oct. 12 bombings in Kuta brought misery to all the people
\nof the island. While families of victims suffered the most, other
\npeople in Bali, such as small-scale craftsmen, were also thrust
\ninto very difficult times.<\/p>\n
Cakra Yasa has been producing high-quality artworks and
\nselling them to collectors and art lovers for 40 years. His
\ngolden days were in the l980s, when foreign tourists and art
\nlovers flocked Bali to hunt down exotic items and souvenirs, such
\nas those displayed in his spacious showroom and studio in the
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
\"My life was full of joy and hope. I worked like a horse
\nbecause we received continuing orders from my customers coming
\nfrom India, Germany, France, Italy and other countries,\" the
\nartist recalled.<\/p>\n
The times have changed, as have his life and fortune. Since
\nthe Gulf War in l991, which negatively affected global business,
\nCakra Yasa's business also started to decline.<\/p>\n
\"Nobody wanted to make long-distance air travel and the number
\nof tourists coming to Bali dropped drastically. This was the
\nfirst disaster faced by small-scale businesses on the island,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Another catastrophe was the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
\non the World Trade Center (WTC) and the Pentagon in the United
\nStates. \"Again, all holiday-goers and businessmen canceled their
\nplanned trips to Bali and importers dropped their orders,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
As a devoted Hindu, Cakra Yasa could do nothing but pray and
\nhope that all would be well. His prayers were answered, and a few
\nmonths after the WTC tragedy, international travelers began
\nreturning to Bali on holiday and on business.<\/p>\n
The village of Sedang and the entire community were happy and
\nrelieved, as their lives are supported by the handicraft
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
The village is located between Bali's provincial capital of
\nDenpasar and the famous village of Ubud, considered the artistic
\nand cultural center of Bali. Visitors heading to Ubud would most
\nlikely pass the village and might stop by to look for works of
\nart and traditional craft products. A large number of tourist
\nbusses also take this route and stop at the village.<\/p>\n
The price of woodcrafts sold at the village may be cheaper
\nthan those on offer at opulent art galleries and art shops in the
\nUbud area. Cakra Yasa sells woodcraft and woodcarving statues at
\nbetween Rp 125,000 and Rp 300,000 for a 80 cm statue. However, he
\nalso offers hand-made, international quality, one-meter-tall
\nstatues at prices of over Rp 10 million each.<\/p>\n
\"My customers have never questioned the prices of my items
\nbecause they were mostly art lovers who valued all artistic
\ncreations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The village also benefited from the arrival of foreign and
\ndomestic tourists, as many sell various forms of handicrafts and
\nother items wanted by the guests.<\/p>\n
\"This past October was the height of the peak season for Bali
\ntourism. Thousands of visitors arrived in Bali and my business
\nbegan to flourish again. Who knew that a few days later, a
\nterrorist attack would shatter all our dreams?\"<\/p>\n
Cakra Yasa said he has made only 25 percent of his normal
\nincome. At present, he distributes his art works and handicraft
\nproducts to small galleries and shops in Sukawati, Ubud and other
\nart centers in Gianyar regency.<\/p>\n
\"I really expect things to get better next year. Otherwise,
\nour business would totally collapse,\" he added sadly.<\/p>\n
In Karang Asem, East Bali, the province's other renowned art
\ncenter, numerous small-scale wood carvers and craftsmen have also
\nbeen affected by the terrorist bombing.<\/p>\n
I Komang Sugiarta, owner of small-scale wooden handicraft
\nproducer PT Mitra Fajar, complained that the bombing has badly
\naffected his company, which produces various wooden products such
\nas furniture, kitchen appliances and other household and interior
\ndecoration items.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, I have a very healthy market, especially in Japan.
\nMy products are made of high-quality woods, such as teakwood. But
\nmany of my clients have not come to Bali for security reasons,\"
\nKomang said.<\/p>\n
In order to survive, Komang has switched his target to the
\nlocal market. \"We have received about 40 percent of our total
\nrevenue from local clients,\" explained Komang.<\/p>\n
\"I have to work hard to keep this business alive, and I am
\nvery concerned now over the fate of my 45 workers. I really hope
\nthat the year 2003 brings prosperity to us,\" he said, full of
\nhope.<\/p>",
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