Annual Bali Art Festival aims to be a 'cultural bridge'
Annual Bali Art Festival aims to be a 'cultural bridge'
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Taman Budaya Bali Arts center in
Denpasar, which is usually quiet, has been transformed into an
animated and zesty art venue hosting the annual Balinese arts
festival starting from June 17 through July 10.
Hundreds of artists are now taking part in series of
performances ranging from classic pieces including the rare
Gambuh dance drama to the more popular artistic creations like
Joged Pingitan and Drama Gong.
Cultural observer Degung Santikarma viewed this as a mentally
and spiritually soothing event.
"People are fed up with political contention and scandalous
news and the festival serves as a mind-relaxing activity. In
addition to Euro 2000, of course," Degung commented.
Thousands of people flocked to Taman Budaya to watch the
parade marking the opening of the festival on June 17. Every
night and day, local viewers and foreign tourists are drawn to
the festival.
This year's festival displays around 81 kinds of performing
arts presented by Balinese artists throughout the island, 24 art
competitions and handicraft exhibition.
"People are able to watch a wide range of art performances
free of charge. They really enjoy it," poet Putu Arcana said.
He personally believes that the festival should become "the
arts for the people," as initiated by former Bali governor Ida
Bagus Mantra.
In l979, Mantra launched the first Bali Arts Festival as a way
to celebrate and increase the awareness and appreciation of
Balinese people to the richness of their own culture.
It was also aimed at regaining cultural pride and dignity.
According to literary scholar Mas Rucitadewi, in the late
1970s, Bali and its culture were flooded by "foreign and tourist
cultures."
"Many Balinese found it difficult to socially and mentally
adjust to the new situation forced by the rapid development in
tourism industry," explained Rucitadewi.
Despite several changes, the Bali Arts Festival has been
successfully functioning as a cultural cohesion among the people
for more than 20 years.
For their hard work and meticulous efforts, the Bali
provincial government should be given a commendation. Not to
mention, the artists who have given their talents to the benefit
of the people and culture.
IB Pangdjaja, head of the Bali Cultural Office, asserted that
the festival continues thanks to the local artists' strong
commitment and active participation.
"We have only a limited budget to hold such a grand festival,"
Pangdjaja maintained. This year's festival cost around Rp 600
million.
Most of the artists consider participation in the festival as
a way to dedicate themselves to the Almighty, locally called
Ngayah. In their artistic performances, Balinese artists rarely
think about money and material things but serving God and the
community.
"The festival has become more global with artists from other
provinces in Indonesian and even foreign countries like the
United States, Japan, and South Korea participating," said
Pangdjaja.
He said that the main theme of this year's festival is the
Babad chronicle. Each of Court Family in Bali had its own Babad
telling their ancestors' achievements, their glories and their
genealogical expositions.
"The use of Babad themes in this festival is to remind people
of their roots and historical backgrounds," noted Pangdjaja.
Scholar I Made Bandem, professor of arts, said that the
festival is a kind of Babad as it links the Balinese people with
their past.
"This is the biggest contribution of the festival to the
development of Balinese art and culture," Bandem asserted.
Bandem also believes the festival is a place for the young to
learn more about their culture.
"It is a cultural bridge that will connect our younger
generation with their ancestors," Bandem said. (I Wayan Juniarta)