Educating Bali via funny-bones
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
Marlowe Makaradhwaja fixed his gaze at one of the caricatures that hung on the wall. A mischievous smile spread gradually across his face.
"This work, to a large extent, is an honest and poignant representation of contemporary Bali and the Balinese," he declared.
The caricature featured a Balinese man looking at his reflection in a small mirror. The reflection was of a smooth, untroubled face. However, hidden from the mirror, was the man's torn sarong, which revealed his naked buttocks. Numerous phrases -- expressing economic difficulties, the death of agriculture and terrorist bombings -- were scrawled on those fleshy cheeks. The caricature was titled Introspection.
"That's us, the Balinese, isn't it? We love to view ourselves as a nice person, a perfect community. In fact, we have so many problems on our butts that we might not be able to sit comfortably ever again," Marlowe said, suppressing a chuckle.
The caricature was drawn by Ida Bagus Martinaya, one of Bali's most senior and respected cartoonists. He is known for his ability to speak -- well, to illustrate, actually -- on modern issues through traditional characters drawn from the island's folklore and mythology.
His regular cartoon strip in the Sunday issue of the Bali Post features Delem and Sangut, two comic wayang characters -- shadow puppet theater characters. The amusingly cynical duo always finds a way to berate the Balinese over their gullibility or greediness.
"His works always deal with the paradox that has embroiled the Balinese, the clash between traditional values with modern ones, between spirituality and materialism, agriculture against tourism, and so forth," Association of Indonesian Cartoonists (Pakarti) president Kadek Jango Paramartha stated.
Martinaya is one of 23 Indonesian and Balinese caricaturists and cartoonists whose works are on display in the Metarana Cartoon Pavilion at the Danes Art Veranda in eastern Denpasar, as part of the ongoing Summit Bali Biennale 2005. The exhibit is curated by Jango Paramartha.
Over 30 intriguing illustrations are to be found in the pavilion, including those of the country's foremost cartoonists such as G.M. Sudarta, Dwi Koendoro, Pramono and Gungun.
The inclusion of a cartoon/caricature exhibition in a biennale of fine arts might come as a surprise -- perhaps an oddly hilarious one -- to many art buffs and critics.
Yet, for Marlowe, one of the young intellectuals behind the Bali Biennale 2005, the cartoon exhibit was a great and natural event to include.
"The main theme of the Bali Biennale 2005 is Space and Scape. Like it or not, cartoons have become an integral and prominent part of the visual language of contemporary Bali, an important element of the island's cultural space and scape," he said.
Moreover, for over a decade, cartoons have played a pivotal role in shaping the Balinese people's opinion and position on various developments on their island.
"From this perspective, in order to get a fuller picture of the island's cultural evolution and development, we cannot afford to alienate the cartoonists and their work," Marlowe stressed.
Curator Jango couldn't agree more.
"The exhibition will introduce and educate the public on the other side of the island's visual language. Hopefully, it will be able to elevate cartoons to a more respected position, as another form of fine arts, perhaps," Jango said.