Young glassmaker creates oversized portrait of sultan<\/p>\n
Ridlo Aryanto, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An imposing glass ornament showing the crowning of Yogyakarta
\nKing Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in 1989 greets everyone visiting
\nthe Jogja Expo Center, the city's grandest convention building.<\/p>\n
Those who think that the exotic, detailed and elegant creation
\nis the work of a famous and reputable glass craftsman will be
\nsurprised to find out that it was created by a young, 26-year-old
\ncraftsman, Dedy Sindutomo.<\/p>\n
Using colored glass imported from the U.S., Dedy managed to
\ncomplete the 10 meter by 16 meter royal figure in two months.<\/p>\n
\"It's a special order and I was told that the king was
\nsatisfied with the glass image,\" Dedy said proudly.<\/p>\n
Born in Yogyakarta on May 31, 1976, the father of two has
\nproduced other notable art pieces.<\/p>\n
His other creations include a calligraphy piece at
\nYogyakarta's Gajah Mada University's mosque, Jesus' Last Supper
\nat the Tridadi church in Sleman, ornaments at Gadjah Wong
\nrestaurant by Gadjah Wong river and in all rooms of the
\nMuhammadiyah central board's new headquarters, Gedoeng
\nNuhammadiyah.<\/p>\n
He said that the Muhammadiyah office also has exclusive
\nornaments in the office of its board chairman Prof. Syafie
\nMaarif. \"During the process of making the glasswork, Prof. Syafie
\nMaarif helped to contribute ideas for some designs,\" said the
\nWest Sumatra native.<\/p>\n
The son of late Ishak Djulis, owner of Surya Padang restaurant
\nwith six outlets in Yogyakarta, Dedy first learned glassmaking
\nskills from art books by Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) lecturer
\nWiyono. He later on had actual training with the author himself,
\nwho helped Dedy with his first drafts and guided him.<\/p>\n
Now the young man, who started his glassmaking business after
\nhis father's death in 1996, is the proprietor of Trimulyo Glass
\nwith two workshops and 18 workers assisting him in Kronggahan and
\nJanti, Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The glass business helped introduce Dedy, a wayward student
\nduring his school days, who frequently instigating student
\nbrawls, to Bagong Sulaeman, a senior glass craftsman in the city.
\nBagong, who exported his products, awakened Dedy's interest in
\nglasswork.<\/p>\n
\"With self-confidence, anyone can learn the skill,\" said the
\nman who had tried his luck opening a sidewalk food stall -- which
\nwas short-lived, and later, a glass shop with his two friends
\nthat also closed after a while.<\/p>\n
As more craftsmen show interest in the business, it has become
\nmore competitive.<\/p>\n
Other glass craftsmen, for instance, price a square meter of
\nglasswork at Rp 2 million, while Dedy offers them at Rp 1.25
\nmillion. Still, he is still able to make an average 30 percent
\nprofit while maintaining the quality of his product.<\/p>\n
When asked to compare the profits gained from a Padang food
\nrestaurant and from glassmaking, he said his glasswork could earn
\nhim about Rp 120 million in normal orders a month while a
\nrestaurant business might give him unlimited income, if the
\nbusiness runs smoothly.<\/p>\n
\"But the glass business has turned out to be more than just
\nabout money. I can come close to public figures and this gives me
\ninvaluable spiritual satisfaction not found in running any
\nrestaurant,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Still, he regrets that his father could not see his present
\nachievements. \"My delinquent behavior made him very sad. He would
\nsurely be proud if he was alive to see this.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/young-glassmaker-creates-oversized-portrait-of-sultan-1447893297",
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