Educating Bali via funny-bones<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
Marlowe Makaradhwaja fixed his gaze at one of the caricatures
\nthat hung on the wall. A mischievous smile spread gradually
\nacross his face.<\/p>\n
\"This work, to a large extent, is an honest and poignant
\nrepresentation of contemporary Bali and the Balinese,\" he
\ndeclared.<\/p>\n
The caricature featured a Balinese man looking at his
\nreflection in a small mirror. The reflection was of a smooth,
\nuntroubled face. However, hidden from the mirror, was the man's
\ntorn sarong, which revealed his naked buttocks. Numerous phrases
\n-- expressing economic difficulties, the death of agriculture and
\nterrorist bombings -- were scrawled on those fleshy cheeks. The
\ncaricature was titled Introspection.<\/p>\n
\"That's us, the Balinese, isn't it? We love to view ourselves
\nas a nice person, a perfect community. In fact, we have so many
\nproblems on our butts that we might not be able to sit
\ncomfortably ever again,\" Marlowe said, suppressing a chuckle.<\/p>\n
The caricature was drawn by Ida Bagus Martinaya, one of Bali's
\nmost senior and respected cartoonists. He is known for his
\nability to speak -- well, to illustrate, actually -- on modern
\nissues through traditional characters drawn from the island's
\nfolklore and mythology.<\/p>\n
His regular cartoon strip in the Sunday issue of the Bali Post
\nfeatures Delem and Sangut, two comic wayang characters -- shadow
\npuppet theater characters. The amusingly cynical duo always finds
\na way to berate the Balinese over their gullibility or
\ngreediness.<\/p>\n
\"His works always deal with the paradox that has embroiled the
\nBalinese, the clash between traditional values with modern ones,
\nbetween spirituality and materialism, agriculture against
\ntourism, and so forth,\" Association of Indonesian Cartoonists
\n(Pakarti) president Kadek Jango Paramartha stated.<\/p>\n
Martinaya is one of 23 Indonesian and Balinese caricaturists
\nand cartoonists whose works are on display in the Metarana
\nCartoon Pavilion at the Danes Art Veranda in eastern Denpasar, as
\npart of the ongoing Summit Bali Biennale 2005. The exhibit is
\ncurated by Jango Paramartha.<\/p>\n
Over 30 intriguing illustrations are to be found in the
\npavilion, including those of the country's foremost cartoonists
\nsuch as G.M. Sudarta, Dwi Koendoro, Pramono and Gungun.<\/p>\n
The inclusion of a cartoon\/caricature exhibition in a biennale
\nof fine arts might come as a surprise -- perhaps an oddly
\nhilarious one -- to many art buffs and critics.<\/p>\n
Yet, for Marlowe, one of the young intellectuals behind the
\nBali Biennale 2005, the cartoon exhibit was a great and natural
\nevent to include.<\/p>\n
\"The main theme of the Bali Biennale 2005 is Space and Scape.
\nLike it or not, cartoons have become an integral and prominent
\npart of the visual language of contemporary Bali, an important
\nelement of the island's cultural space and scape,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Moreover, for over a decade, cartoons have played a pivotal
\nrole in shaping the Balinese people's opinion and position on
\nvarious developments on their island.<\/p>\n
\"From this perspective, in order to get a fuller picture of
\nthe island's cultural evolution and development, we cannot afford
\nto alienate the cartoonists and their work,\" Marlowe stressed.<\/p>\n
Curator Jango couldn't agree more.<\/p>\n
\"The exhibition will introduce and educate the public on the
\nother side of the island's visual language. Hopefully, it will be
\nable to elevate cartoons to a more respected position, as another
\nform of fine arts, perhaps,\" Jango said.<\/p>",
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