Art'Suku, a show of true artists

Art'Suku, a show of true artists

Now that the curtain has been lowered to mark the end of the
show, what is left is just the images of beautifully
choreographed traditional dances, rarely heard musical
arrangements and their accompanying lyrics in languages that are
strange to a Jakarta audience.

What do we know about our own traditional art and culture?
What do we know about the lives of the tribal groups in faraway
islands? Do we understand that their art is their ritual and
their ritual is part of their lives, containing joy, sorrow,
mourning and gratitude?

The first-ever Jakarta Arts Council Art'Suku Kencan Budaya
Nusantara (or Art'Suku the Archipelago Cultural Rendezvous) was
just the event to seek answers to the above questions.

However, it also left a lingering question: Are we going to
have another chance next year to indulge in cultural events that
showcase the richness and diversity of the country's traditions?

The council said, during a press conference prior to the
event, that due to the meager budget only three tribal groups --
the Nabire from Papua, the Central Kalimantan Dayak Ngaju and the
Mentawai from West Sumatra -- would come to Jakarta.

Are financial considerations of paramount importance when we
talk about the opportunity to know and to develop a better
understanding of how rich we are as a nation?

Rather ambitious, the council has pledged to hold the second,
third, and so on, of this designated biannual event in the coming
years on condition the government -- which must be greatly
involved in preserving the nation's cultural wealth -- pays
closer attention.

The willingness of State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero
Wacik to open the event and to share a few words might have
provided some hope, but ultimately we will have to wait and see.

The images below (clockwise), wrap up the whole event, which
was held from Dec. 17 through Dec. 19.
Text by Emmy Fitri
Photos by P.J. Leo