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.