Cartoonists explore paradox of Bali

Cartoonists explore paradox of Bali

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The front cover of Bogbog magazine's April edition features a
cartoon depicting a cow, several ducks and three Balinese farmers
in a rice field, which, intriguingly, was located on the rooftops
of three adjoining skyscrapers. "Agriculture Department" was
emblazoned across one of the buildings.

The cartoon obviously reflects the currently prevailing
anxiety among many Balinese, who believe that the island -- and
its people -- had unwisely succumbed to the temptations of
tourism and modern development and in doing so, that they had put
their own traditional values and way of life on the verge of
extinction.

"Of course, you won't find any rice fields located on the top
of a skyscraper anywhere in Bali. Presenting 'actual' reality is
not our job. A cartoonist dramatizes things, extrapolates trends
and presents a stretched out version of the future. We have to
bend 'the truth' a bit to slap people awake," Bogbog's chief
editor Jango Paramarta said.

The magazine marked its second anniversary this April by
organizing "Car2nia for the Future", a series of events that also
includes a cartoon exhibition presenting 80 works from 14 local
cartoonists. The exhibition lasts from April 26 to May 2 at
Denpasar's newly renovated cultural hub, Danes Art Veranda.

Most of the exhibition works present various interpretations
of the tension that exists between agriculture and tourism, which
could be generalized as the friction that exists between
traditional and modern Bali.

For example, one piece depicts a farmer swinging a golf club
from amidst disappearing rice fields, while another shows an
escalator traversing steep, rice field terraces, and still
another shows a father persuading his son to taste a piece of
traditional roast suckling pig while the little brat screams for
-- what else -- hamburger and fried chicken.

The second most exploited theme was the Bali bombings and
their effect on the Balinese. The cartoonists treat this
sensitive subject in a solemn, yet optimistic, manner, projecting
their belief that "the spirit of Bali will never die".

This exhibition is important because it marks the debut of
several young cartoonists, including Panca, Rizal, Arim, Chuk,
Winata, Ardi, Anang and Sayong.

Their works are still flawed in some areas: Their artistic
concepts and composition are not as captivating as Jango's or
Surya Dharma's and their symbolic visualizations are inferior
compared to Gunasta's. Naturally, these young cartoonist have not
yet reached the level of maturity and substance as their seniors.

Still, their cunning sense of humor, sensitivity toward social
issues and capacity for self-reflection and critical thinking
have convinced their seniors that in Bali, the future of cartoons
-- unlike agriculture -- would shine brightly. -- I Wayan
Juniartha