Bali Art for Peace Festival spreads peace and tolerance
Bali Art for Peace Festival spreads peace and tolerance
I Wayan Juniarta
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Happening Art, Pasir, Angin dan Ombak,
(Sand, Wind and Waves), originally designed as a climax for the
recent Art and Peace festival failed to amuse more than 5,000
spectators at Padang Galak beach, Sanur, on Dec. 10.
For the Happening Art event, the organizer -- artist Made
Wianta -- had promised to display a colossal attraction.
The Art and Peace Festival, held between Dec. 7 and Dec. 10,
presented a series of art events, discussions and exhibitions
involving religious leaders, artists, scholars and students.
The committee also boasted that a number of prominent
international leaders like Tibet's Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and
President Abdurrahman Wahid would attend the event.
During the event, two helicopters were scheduled to carry a
2,000-meter long banner filled with peaceful messages written in
various languages.
The helicopters were planned to carry the banner from Klating
in Tabanan, 30 kilometer west of Denpasar, to Padang Galak beach.
Unfortunately, this most awaited attraction never happened,
leaving spectators disappointed.
When the two helicopters, owned by the National Search and
Rescue Body and the Indonesian Navy, passed over the beach, the
spectators waited eagerly, wanting to see the flying banner.
Instead, the helicopters dropped a sheet of white cloth to the
ground. Hundreds of high school students and dancers spread the
white banner on the sand and then they prayed, danced and sang.
Some of organizing committee' members clapped their hands and
shouted happily as if it was the climax of the event.
"How about the flying banner?" asked one spectator. "We came
here because we want to see the huge banners carried by
helicopters as promoted in posters and the media," he added.
People were disappointed, and the event could be seen as an
anticlimax of bombastic promotions for the Art and Peace
Festival, which was aimed at providing peace and enlightenment to
not only people in Bali but also the international community.
But technical difficulties and nature had made the flying of
the banner impossible.
A committee member explained to several journalists that
strong winds and the weight of the banner were the main causes of
the cancellation.
Cultural observer Ketut Sumarta commented that the festival
carried a very heavy image, a promotional mistake.
"The committee emphasized only on colossal attractions rather
than the substance of the festival -- a reflection of peace and
serenity," he said.
When they failed to present such an attraction and failed to
have Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela come to the island, people
were disappointed.
Nyoman Gede Sugiharta, a scholar, added that Wianta should
have picked more "grassroots" art forms which could easily be
digested by the public.
He cited some examples: Before the l999 general election, a
number of Balinese artists held Wayang Wakul (traditional
Balinese drama) in several villages to give information to
villagers about the elections. It also functioned as political
awareness education for them. But, the messages and lessons were
delivered in a very subtle yet entertaining way.
The Indonesian Islamic Students Association in Bali have
frequently held events involving artists and students of
different cultural and religious backgrounds in harmonious
atmospheres.
"Their activities, however small, are very touching and
significant in building a tolerant and peaceful community," he
explained.
Yet, Wianta deserved commendation for his tireless and
meticulous efforts in holding such a big event which gave plenty
of room for literary and art performances.
Wianta and the committee held poetry writing and reading
contests in 100 cities in Indonesia.
At the Happening Art event, senior poet Umbu Landu Paranggi
read poems that mesmerized the Padang Galak audience.
Scholars like Mudji Sutrisno, Tommy F. Awuy, Urs Ramseyer,
Taufik Rahzen and film director Garin Nugroho widened people's
horizon with their thoughts and opinions at the festival's
seminar.
Wianta's biggest contribution to nurturing peace and tolerance
was his effort to give a chance to spiritual Hindu leaders and
groups like Ashram Bali Gandhi Vidyapith, Hare Krisna, Ananda
Marga, etc., to hold rituals for the same purpose -- to create
peace on earth.
"It's a kind of public acknowledgement for them," said
Sugiharta.
It certainly needs a strong commitment and ... capital to
organize a big event as Wianta's.
Wianta insisted on continuing the event even though some
sponsors failed to appear at the last minute.
"I spent Rp 600 million of my own money, not to mention the
value of art objects used in the festival," said Wianta.
It will take quite a long time to see the result of the
festival. Creating peaceful and harmonious lives among the people
is an intangible and long-term job.
Wianta, at least, promised to realize the message of the
festival by holding tours to hundreds of schools in Bali and
other cities in Indonesia to spread the message of the festival
-- peace and tolerance. Hopefully, he can keep his promise.