Australia honors RI 'dalang'

Australia honors RI 'dalang'

MELBOURNE: At the government-to-government level there may be times of sweet-and-sour relations, suspicions and tensions, but in general, Indonesian-Australian relations are healthy.

On Australia Day, which falls on Jan. 26, among those on the honors list is Indonesian artist Poedijono, who is to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia for his role in promoting Indonesian culture and arts in Australia.

The 63-year-old Wonogiri-born dalang -- or puppet master -- dancer, singer and performing arts instructor has tirelessly nurtured interest in and love for Indonesian arts in Australia since his arrival there in 1973.

Of course, he said, he was elated when he received the news. "I thought, wow -- I'll be honored for doing what I love doing, and that's great!"

Poedijono's skills in merging the traditional with the modern has added to his popularity in Australia. In his wayang kulit, or leather puppet, shows, he uses English as well as the Javanese language to enhance the audience's enjoyment and appreciation.

At the Melbourne Fringe Arts Festival recently, he agreed to direct the Melbourne Community Gamelan, which took part in Drupadi's Revenge, an award-winning, modern dance-drama staged by Underbelly, a performing arts school.

Poedijono hopes that other gamelan and traditional puppetry enthusiasts will receive such honors and that the seeds of appreciation he has planted will continue to grow to receive mainstream recognition in Australia. -- JP