Ancient puppets star at Bogor handicraft week
Ancient puppets star at Bogor handicraft week
By Joko Sarwono
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Forty kilometers from the old Bogor- Jakarta highway, banners announcing The First Handicraft Week in the district Cibinong meet the eye of Bogor-bound travelers. Upon entering Bogor regency, a giant billboard announces it again.
The five-day Handicraft Market held by the National Handicraft Council (Dekranas) covers village crafts from several districts under Bogor administration; it started on Tuesday, May 7, and ends today.
The event aims to bridge the gap between local artisans and prospective buyers.
Oscar Saragih, the spokesman of the council, said that ideally artisans should take home at least a 60 percent of the sale price, not the derisory amount they get now.
"The rest, forty percent, should go to traders, middlemen, and on transportation and tax," Oscar said.
"But we have to bridge the gap between buyers and artisans first," said Oscar, also the head of the market management in Bogor.
"This event," he said, "is an effort of the handicraft council designed to showcase the products of Bogor regency.
"A book will explain all the local handicraft products." Prices will also be included, Oscar said.
One attraction is Haim, an ancient wayang golek puppet maker who started his craft in 1930.
"I have been making wayang golek puppets from 1930, right up to the Japanese occupation. Then I stopped doing that and became a puppeteer instead, entertaining romusha (forced laborers during the Japanese occupation). After the Japanese surrendered I became a puppetmaker again, and have remained one till now," said Haim.
He said his clients include tourists from Germany, Canada, France and the Netherlands. He also said that tourists know about him because he has contacts abroad. The government has sent him abroad a few times and he has also been invited by people in foreign countries.
His puppets start at Rp 65,000. "Some sell for Rp 600,000, because of their intricate shape, their size and the long time they take to make," he said.
Like other people involved in traditional handicraft, Haim experiences brisk and slack periods, with monthly income ranging from Rp 6 million to zero.
With his wooden puppets, he has managed to provide for the family, and send his children to school. Three of his grandchildren have finished university.
Another successful stand-owner is Sulaeman, 24, from Bojongrangkas in Ciampea district. He has been in the bag producing business with his elder brother since 1991.
Presently they employ 30 workers, paying them Rp 12,000 daily. Monthly net profits are around Rp 1 million.
He said their success was due to the support of the state owned telecommunications company, PT. Telkom, who act as their sponsors and provide equipment on a credit basis.
Aja is 39 years old and has six kids. He works precious stones in Jasinga district, and said most of his customers are foreign tourists from Korea and Taiwan. He added that he usually asks for a down-payment.
"I cannot get a bank loan, since I don't own my land, I only lease it" complained Aja. "I have to get material from the rivers in Jasinga in Bogor. Sometimes I have to go to Garut, Solo, or Ujungkulon. I even went to Riau once," said Aja.
He transports the raw material to his studio for polishing. Six workers help him polish the gems, at Rp 3,500 per day.
Revenues can reach Rp 10 million per month, he said.
"But if it is very quiet, we won't even make enough to buy cigarettes," he said. His wife's kiosk is a great help in making ends meet, he admits.
"Who knows, the government might help me with loans to buy rough gems and filing equipment," he said hopefully.