Betawi arts body holds cultural event at Taman Ria Senayan

JAKARTA (JP): The Betawi Arts Foundation (LKB) is holding a five-day Betawi cultural event called Gelar Budaya Betawi to celebrate Jakarta's 471st anniversary at Taman Ria Senayan amusement park in Central Jakarta.

The event, opened Tuesday, includes a painting exhibition of Betawi painters, a wedding-and-costume parade as well as traditional live shows like lenong (comedy) and music performances of cokek, gambang kromong and gambang rancak.

LKB chairwoman Ema Amalia Bisri said that 25 Betawi cultural troupes were participating in the festival.

"We are holding the event on a really tight budget. Some of the LKB troupes are participating for free," Ema said.

"Normally the event would, on a whole, cost Rp 100 million, but due to the economic situation we have managed this on Rp 20 million."

"We expect about 5,000 visitors within these five days."

Attended by Deputy Governor of Social Welfare Affair Jaelani, city secretary Fauzie Bowo, the amusement park's executive director Brigitta Sastranegara and Native Jakartans Association (Bamus Betawi) chief Edi M. Nalapraya, the event's opening ceremony saw about 200 people.

It opened to the playing of Rebana Biang, a Betawi musical and traditional martial arts performance by nine traditional artists, and the painting exhibition.

Featuring about 30 paintings, the exhibition includes paintings by Sarnadi Adam, a 42-year-old Betawi painter, and those of late Betawi comedian Benyamin S.

"My paintings on display are those done as long as eight years ago up to the present," said Sarnadi, who was present at the event.

"My personal best is titled Ondel-Ondel (giant Betawi puppets). In commemoration of Jakarta's 471st anniversary, I have painted 471 heads of ondel-ondel. One costs Rp 17 million."

The paintings are being sold for between Rp 11 million and Rp 22 million each. (ylt)