Indonesian kites becoming more attractive<\/p>\n
Bambang Parlupi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Flying kites as a hobby has been developing rapidly in
\nIndonesia, with various types and motifs now appearing to add
\nmore color to this outdoor pursuit and its changing functions.<\/p>\n
Historically, kites were first known in human civilization
\naround 3,000 years ago in China. From there, kites began to
\nspread to the other Asian regions like Korea, Japan, the Malay
\narchipelago and India. In Europe, the ancient Greeks were the
\nfirst to develop the airborne toys.<\/p>\n
According to the book Making Kites written by Rhoda Baker and
\nMiles Denger, the word \"kite\" is derived from the name of a
\nmagnificent and graceful bird of prey. Kites have been used by
\ndifferent nations to serve various functions since antiquity.<\/p>\n
Chinese traditional communities, for instance, fly butterfly
\nand bird kites for religious ceremonies. In Korea, there is the
\nunique tradition of writing a newborn baby's name on a kite,
\nwhich is then flown and left gliding in the air. Some Koreans
\nbelieve that the released kite will rid the infant of evil
\nspirits and their influence.<\/p>\n
Some Japanese use the airborne \"puppets\" as a means of
\nenlivening social celebrations. At such festivals, people join
\nhands to fly very large, long kites. In 169 BC, a general in
\nChina was said to have boarded a giant kite to observe enemy
\nmaneuvers. \"In ancient times, kites already supported the war
\nmachine,\" said Indonesian kite enthusiast Zaenal Effendi.<\/p>\n
The function of kites has also developed in several areas in
\nthe country. In Javanese villages, kites are employed to drive
\naway insects and wild birds in paddy fields. More uniquely,
\nfishermen in Lampung use traditional kites for fishing.<\/p>\n
The flying of kites as a spiritual gesture has become a custom
\nof Bali's predominantly Hindu people to express gratitude to God
\nfor soil fertility.<\/p>\n
Zaenal, nicknamed Eddie, claims that the history of kites
\nbegan in Indonesia. The man, now in his sixties, who once entered
\nnational and international kite festivals, said Indonesia's
\nancient men used kites extensively. \"In the interior of Sulawesi,
\nprimitive paintings depicting people playing with airborne
\npuppets were discovered on cave walls. They are estimated to date
\nfrom over 3,000 years ago -- before China's kites,\" he indicated.<\/p>\n
Museum already established<\/p>\n
Some blame kites for spoiling the landscape around kite
\nplaygrounds. In the kite-flying season, usually coinciding with
\nschool vacations, state electricity company PLN and
\ntelecommunications corporation Telkom often gets complaints about
\npower line and network trouble. Kite frames and strings become
\nentangled in cables and disturb power or telephone installations.
\n\"Therefore, So we want to change the bad image of kites and make
\nthem part of the nation's art and culture,\" Eddie assured.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in order to maintain kite development as a leisure
\nactivity, a center for the safekeeping and display of a wide
\nrange of kites from all over the country has been established.
\nNamed the Indonesian Museum of Kites, it is the only museum of
\nits the kind ever set up in Indonesia, which has been open to the
\npublic since March 21, 2003.<\/p>\n
So far it has collected more than 350 kites from different
\nparts of this country, as well as other countries. Its founder,
\nart patron Endang W. Puspoyo, also known as a beautician, has
\nbeen active in the kite-lovers community since 1989. Her great
\ninterest in this pursuit was manifested in the opening of the
\nkite museum, with the noble aim of safeguarding this distinctive
\naspect of Indonesian culture, while also providing an educational
\nand scientific tourist attraction.<\/p>\n
An array of kites in a variety of forms and designs are neatly
\narranged in one of South Jakarta's tourist spots. Its rare
\ncollection includes the smallest kite, whole-leaf kites and
\ndecades-old, yet well preserved ones.<\/p>\n
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Fridays, the museum
\nhas a collection from virtually the entire country, besides some
\nforeign items. Visitors need only to buy entry tickets worth Rp
\n5,000 per person.<\/p>\n
Kite-making skills<\/p>\n
The 3,000 square meter building has workshop rooms where brief
\nkite-making classes are provided. Under the guidance of
\nexperienced instructors, visitors can try to build kites by
\nsimple methods.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, the museum's guests comprise children,
\nteenagers and adults. \"Visitors in groups are taught how to
\nconstruct kites after observing the kite varieties on display,\"
\nsaid Nia, a museum staffer. The course taken by kindergarten
\nchildren or first- and second-graders, however, instructs them
\nonly in creative skills like coloring techniques and paper-
\nfolding to create kite forms.<\/p>\n
Primary school students from third to sixth grades, according
\nto Nia, are taught how to make kites in their popular diamond
\nform, while being also introduced to a variety of other
\ntraditional shapes. Junior and senior high school students are
\ninstructed in kite-building techniques, including measurement,
\nbalance calculation and assembly.<\/p>\n
For material cost reimbursement, participants only have to pay
\nRp 200,000 for 20 children and three attendants, as against Rp
\n250,000 for 20 students of third to sixth grades. In addition,
\nthe museum's instructors are frequently invited to various events
\nto introduce kite-making knowhow, such as birthday parties,
\nfamily receptions and short school courses.<\/p>\n
Its popularity among educational circles has prompted some
\nlocal and foreign schools to make the museum a place of study,
\ncreativity, practice and recreation. Its hundreds of daily
\nvisitors include students from several international schools like
\nthe Jakarta International School, British International School
\nand Australian International School, which have sought to learn
\nhow to build Indonesian kites, knowledge that was in danger of
\nbeing lost forever.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Kite Museum<\/p>\n
Jl.Haji Kamang No. 38<\/p>\n
Pondok Labu<\/p>\n
Jakarta Selatan 12450<\/p>\n
tel. 7658075, fax. 7505112<\/p>\n
website: www.merindokites.com<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-kites-becoming-more-attractive-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }