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.