Gallis and Rakidi, faces behind the masks<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Sun atakon si jabang sapa aran ira<\/p>\n
Lan sira bocah sing endi<\/p>\n
Mbok bapan ira sapa<\/p>\n
Bagus aran ira<\/p>\n
Raman ira sing nyukani<\/p>\n
(I ask the baby what is your name?<\/p>\n
And where do you come from?<\/p>\n
Who are your mother and father?<\/p>\n
Your name is good.<\/p>\n
'Twas your father named you)<\/p>\n
Thus was a line from the song Durma, which opened the mask
\nexhibition by duo Gallis AS and Rakidi of Sanggar Paseban
\ntitled Topeng dari Wajah Sendiri (Masks of Our Faces) at the
\nBritish Council in Jakarta on Oct. 15.<\/p>\n
The song is traditionally sung at the naming ceremony for a
\nnew baby in Indramayu, West Java, and in this case it described
\nthe bond between the sculptor and his masks.<\/p>\n
Our own masks meaning the masks we hide behind in facing the
\nworld, \"nggal wong nggo kedok na tujuan\" (everyone wears a mask
\neach with a purpose) Rakidi sang, his voice sometimes obscured by
\nthe tall bookshelves as he walked among them.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Gallis roamed around the library wearing four masks
\nat the same time. A black mask on his face often falling to
\nreveal the naked face behind it, before he quickly covered it up
\nagain.<\/p>\n
Gallis and Rakidi, with 13 years between them, represent a new
\nline of mask makers.<\/p>\n
\"The artists come from different traditions, Rakidi rooted in
\nthe Indramayu tradition, whereas Gallis' masks are contemporary,\"
\nMuriel Dunbar, British Council deputy director said during the
\nopening.<\/p>\n
Although different in style and tradition, the masks created
\nby both Gallis and Rakidi never left their original purpose as a
\ntool to enhance the experience of the performing arts.<\/p>\n
Gallis, 37, whose real name is Agus Sunardi, started sculpting
\nmasks in 1990 in the Balinese tradition with I Made Sija. Born
\nout of the need to create masks for the theater, this dancer and
\nactor explored the art further to create his own contemporary
\ncreations.<\/p>\n
Some of his masks have been used in theater performances
\nincluding Intip (peep) in Teater Gerak's Dreams performed in
\nPostdam, Germany, in 1996, and Kop for collaborative work of This
\nNot Ramakien in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1997.<\/p>\n
Using the wood from the angsana tree (pterocarpus indicus),
\nGallis's masks are smooth and unmarked by paint. Arkhetipe
\n(double masks) for example are two masks on top of each other,
\nthe upper with its eyes open and the bottom eyes closed, both
\nserene as if nothing could disturb their peace.<\/p>\n
The younger of the two artists, Rakidi, 24, never left the
\nIndramayu mask tradition and its Tari Topeng (mask dance).<\/p>\n
Unlike Gallis's unadorned creations, Rakidi's masks are rich
\nin color. And true to the tradition of Panji (11th century
\nstories of a Javanese nobleman's search for his lost love),
\nRakidi's masks often depict the righteous Panji character, the
\nantagonist Kelana, as well as the comic reliefs Bagong and Togog.<\/p>\n
Rakidi, who comes from a family of traditional artists, said
\nthat he began sculpting masks in 1995 simply because he wanted to
\nown his own tari topeng mask.<\/p>\n
\"Masks are special, sacred, they are not toys so children
\ncannot play with them. They're also expensive and beautiful,\" he
\nsaid, explaining his love for the mask.<\/p>\n
From his first creation, the simple Panji mask, Rakidi's masks
\nslowly gained renown and were used in the tari topeng
\nperformances by Sanggar Mulya Bhakti, his uncle's dance troupe.<\/p>\n
In the exhibition, Rakidi also showcased what he considered
\nhis masterpiece, the 16.2 centimeter by 13.7 centimeter Panji
\nmask he made this year.<\/p>\n
\"I've never made a mask like that before, it is my best work,\"
\nRakidi said, adding that while he never made any special
\npreparations before sculpting, he believes that fasting and
\nmeditating before making masks would make the creation even more
\nbeautiful.<\/p>\n
Topeng dari Wajah Sendiri exhibition runs until Dec. 30, 2002, at
\nthe British Council exhibition area. Be sure to browse through
\nthe bookshelves for hidden masks and look out for masks set on
\nthe ceiling. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
\nSaturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information please contact
\nBritish Council Jakarta, S. Widjojo Center 1st Floor, Jl Jend.
\nSudirman Kav. 71, Jakarta, tel. 021-2524115, or Sanggar Paseban,
\ntel. 021-3914945.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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