Educating Bali via funny-bones
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.