Saving the Balinese ancient art of 'lontar'<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Buleleng, Bali<\/p>\n
A great many of Indonesia's indigenous arts have disappeared
\nbecause the younger generation lives in the pop culture, and
\nconsiders anything indigenous as \"out of fashion\".<\/p>\n
This situation has added credence to the conviction that you
\nshould expose your children at the earliest age possible to the
\nculture that you want and expect them to grow up loving and
\nnurturing.<\/p>\n
I Gusti Bagus Sudiasta is one person who has proven the truth
\nbehind this belief.<\/p>\n
Brought up in a family that had a great appreciation of the
\narts, he has dedicated most of his life to preserving lontar
\ndocuments, or manuscripts written on palm leaves, a profession
\nthat most people would frown upon because it is both lonely and
\nfinancially unrewarding.<\/p>\n
Sudiasta, a native of the northern Balinese regency of
\nBuleleng, is proud to have inherited his ancestors' skill at
\nlontar reading and inscription, and to be able to share this
\nexpertise with younger Balinese.<\/p>\n
Born on Sept. 13, 1952, Sudiasta is the son of I Gusti Ngurah
\nSuarna, a dedicated activist of traditional arts and literature.<\/p>\n
\"I inherited my talent and skill mostly from my grandfather, I
\nGusti Bagus Sukriwa, a well-known Balinese (Hindu) priest as well
\nas expert in literature and culture.<\/p>\n
\"It was my grandfather who gave me the inspiration and
\nguidance in pursuing my lontar-inscribing skills,\" he says.<\/p>\n
Sudiasta began his artistic pursuits by sketching Balinese
\nwayang (puppet) characters when he was in elementary school.<\/p>\n
He continued to develop his skills while he was in junior high
\nschool and high school. Still, he credits much of his mastery to
\nhis art-loving family and environs.<\/p>\n
\"My grandfather was a Balinese dalang (puppet master) and I
\nalso learned the art (of puppetry) from him,\" he says.<\/p>\n
Sudiasta's lontar-inscription prowess led him to a position
\nsome 25 years ago at Gedong Kirtya, a museum in Buleleng that
\nspecializes not only in collecting and preserving old lontar
\nscrolls, but also copying, transcribing and transliterate the
\ncontents.<\/p>\n
\"I got the job simply because I could read and, most
\nimportantly, inscribe lontar,\" he recalls. \"Mine is a rare skill
\nand they hired me on the spot.\"<\/p>\n
This proficiency has allowed Sudiasta to earn additional
\nincome from selling lontar scrolls, mainly to foreigners who
\nappreciate the value of the hand-written arts.<\/p>\n
\"Scrolling on lontar requires great patience because you
\ncannot make a mistake when scratching the pengutik or pengerupak
\n(inscribing tools) on the dried leaves.<\/p>\n
\"Each scratch must have a purpose and meaning. We cannot
\nafford to erase any scratched lines, so it takes a lot of
\nconcentration when making lontar,\" he said.<\/p>\n
No preparatory rituals are required when working on lontar
\nscrolls, and Sudiasta says he just follows his mood. It begins
\nwith him reading the storyline to be inscribed on the lontar.<\/p>\n
\"Then the drawings and writings just flow. Sometimes I have to
\nrefuse (a job) if I think the story is not right or appropriate.
\nSometimes, I am just not in the mood,\" said Sudiasta.<\/p>\n
Now the curator of Gedong Kirtya, Sudiasta is doing everything
\nhe can to reintroduce lontar and traditional Balinese literature
\nto the Balinese public, especially the young.<\/p>\n
His first goal is to spread the knowledge of the ancient
\nlontar among students.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, most Balinese students can read the Balinese
\nalphabet, as it is taught as a compulsory subject. But when it
\ncomes to reading lontar, most students feel afraid and reluctant
\nbecause the lontar is considered sacred.<\/p>\n
\"If we can't get students interested in reading lontar, how
\ncan we expect them to make one?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, Balinese Hindus regard lontar as holy items
\nthat are usually placed in temples, where only the pedanda
\n(priest) can read them during religious ceremonies. This
\nperception has discouraged laymen from studying lontar.<\/p>\n
Gedong Kirtya organizes an annual festival called Nyastra
\nBali, in which students read lontar-based Balinese literary
\npieces as well as compose their own.<\/p>\n
\"Once they are familiar with lontar reading, they will better
\nappreciate the art. Only then can we hope that some of the
\nstudents will be interested in learning how to inscribe lontar,\"
\nSudiasta said.<\/p>\n
Several high schools in Karangasem and Buleleng have begun to
\nintroduce the art of lontar inscription to their students.<\/p>\n
Sudiasta also wants to see lontar become a field of study at
\nart institutes.<\/p>\n
He is proud that all three of his sons from his marriage with
\nSang Ni Made Rasmawati, a traditional Balinese dancer, can
\ninscribe lontar.<\/p>\n
His oldest son, I Gusti Bagus Kusuma Mahendra, 25, is an
\narchitect who graduated from Denpasar's Udayana University, and
\nis well-versed in traditional Balinese dances.<\/p>\n
His second son, I Gusti Ngurah Paramarta Giri, 23, a graduate
\nof Bali Polytechnic, also has a great interest in traditional
\ndances.<\/p>\n
\"My youngest son is the best lontar writer of all. He finished
\nin third place at a recent lontar inscription competition,\"
\nSudiasta says about I Gusti Bagus Nyoman Purwa Japa, 16, a high
\nschool student.<\/p>\n
\"My sons' achievements ease my worry about the future of
\nlontar. They are well aware about preserving their cultural
\nheritage,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sudiasta is a perfect model for the adage that cultural
\nawareness is best implanted in children as early as possible.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saving-the-balinese-ancient-art-of-lontar-1447893297",
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