Irianese bark paintings carve out their own style<\/p>\n
By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): From Sydney to Stockholm, Irianese primitive art
\nhas gained its place as a modern decorative item in galleries and
\nliving rooms.<\/p>\n
The most popular form of Irianese art is sculpture from the
\nAsmat tribe, but others have actually developed into a more
\nmodern art form.<\/p>\n
The main appeal of Asmat sculpture comes from the crude
\ncarving style, which has ironically also acted as a hindrance to
\nits development.<\/p>\n
In the few years since the statues become popular, sculptors
\nfrom Bali and Java have succeeded in imitating the style. Now,
\nvisitors can easily find \"genuine\" Asmat carvings in Jakarta art
\ngalleries and meet the Javanese sculptor in residence.<\/p>\n
Bark painting, another form of Irianese art, has undergone an
\ninteresting metamorphosis.<\/p>\n
The traditional form uses bark from the kombo'u, a tree common
\nin the highlands of the province. According to Samuel Kabes from
\nthe Irian Jaya Chamber of Commerce's representative in Jakarta,
\nthe kombo'u tree contains two layers of bark. It is the second
\nlayer that easily peels to be turned into a canvas.<\/p>\n
After being pounded and cleaned of sap, the bark is sun-dried
\nfor a week. After a two-week-long processing, the bark stretches
\nto as large as 0.5m X 1m.<\/p>\n
The art is mostly popular among the Asei tribespeople who live
\nby the Sentani Lake in Jayapura. They use a traditional means of
\ncoloring. White is gained from pounded sea shells, red is derived
\nfrom the fruit of the areca nut or clay and black from charcoal.<\/p>\n
Like other traditional art forms, bark painting used to be
\nclosely related to religious practices.<\/p>\n
\"Women of higher status in the tribe used to wear painted bark
\nto religious ceremonies,\" said Samuel. Like many traditional
\nsocieties, important rites of passages such as coming of age,
\nbirth and death are marked by the whole tribe.<\/p>\n
Traditional painting themes are closely related to the tribe's
\ndaily activities. Animals like fish and lizards are also believed
\nto have supernatural powers, with paintings occasionally serving
\nas homages to these forces.<\/p>\n
The arrival of newcomers to Irian Jaya has triggered a
\ndevelopment in bark painting. Instilled with a better art
\nknowledge, these outsiders are mainly interested in the
\nuniqueness of kombo'u bark as a selling point.<\/p>\n
\"At an exhibition organized by the Ministry of Trade and
\nIndustry, many buyers were interested in this new innovation,\"
\nsaid Hamzah Muin.<\/p>\n
A Makassar native who has lived in Irian Jaya for the past 30
\nyears, Hamzah will organize a tree bark painting exhibition to
\npopularize the medium.<\/p>\n
Although retaining tree bark as canvas, the modern bark
\npainter uses arcylic paint.<\/p>\n
\"Bark has distinct characteristics compared to a normal
\ncanvass. At times, I need more paint,\" said Rizal.<\/p>\n
Since it is still at an early developmental age, modern
\npainting only takes form as panoramic paintings used as
\ndecorative art.<\/p>\n
While the artistic value of modern bark paintings has yet to
\nbe established, natives of Irian have questioned the motive of
\nsuch development.<\/p>\n
\"We should establish a common rule so that traditional Irian
\nart is not overexploited,\" said Samuel.<\/p>\n
Hamzah's exhibition \"Panoramic paintings on tree bark from
\nIrian\" will be held in the lobby of Hotel Indonesia, Central
\nJakarta, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. Thirty traditional paintings and
\n80 modern ones will be displayed.<\/p>",
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