French fireworks to highlight golden anniversary

JAKARTA (JP): The French government has come up with a unique idea for a gift. It is providing a pyrotechnical spectacle for Indonesia's celebration of its 50th anniversary of independence.

Supported by nine French companies, Total, Alcatel, EDF, Accord, Bouygues, Schneider, Sofretu, France Telecom and Bull, and the French Association of Artistic Action, the French embassy in Jakarta has invited a world renowned fireworks artist, Pierre- Alain Hubert, to set the sky above the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta afire on the night of Aug. 19 as part of the nation's celebration of Independence Day, which falls on Aug. 17.

Hubert, who is known as the Dream Seller, will decorate the sky for around 30 minutes with hundreds kinds of colorful fireworks. His creations will range from simple flower and star compositions to more complicated comet, fountain and bomb designs.

Fireworks bombs of 250 to 300 millimeters in diameter have also been prepared to create visual commotion in the sky.

"Just imagine their effect, even cannon used in wars usually measure 75 millimeters in diameter at the most. It will surely be the biggest fireworks event ever displayed in Jakarta," Hubert, who is also an architect and a poet, told The Jakarta Post.

Four military helicopter crews, as well as 20 French and 40 Indonesian military people will assist Hubert, who will conduct the orchestra of fire through his computer. The fireworks will be placed at three sites surrounding the monument and on the monument itself.

The four helicopters will appear unannounced to mark the beginning of the festivity, followed by the shooting off of the first 1,000 fireworks. Around 500 musicians will accompany the rain of fireworks with melody, according to Hubert's scenario for the spectacle.

This powerful and vibrant explosion of fireworks, to mirror the strong emotion ignited in the hearts of Indonesia's by the nation's golden anniversary, will start the pyrotechnical extravaganza at 8:30 p.m. The second phase of the display will color the sky red and white, in homage to Indonesia's national flag. The third round of explosions will bring the colors of France: blue, white and red.

In all this impressive anniversary gift will consume no less than eight tons of the chemicals necessary to fireworks displays.

Various kinds of fireworks, the best that Hubert could collect from various countries, including France, Spain, Italy, China and Japan, will be sent into the sky from the area around the monument.

A dramatic show of waterfall-like fireworks will be dropped from the peak of the National Monument to lend a magical atmosphere to the night.

"That is the reason people call me `Dream Seller'. I give them a dream, not an ordinary dream, but a dream that will open your eyes wide," said Hubert, who has been putting on fireworks extravaganzas for 20 years.

At the same time, members of the Wayang Orang Bharata Javanese opera troupe will perform the segment of the Ramayana epic, in which Sinta -- who was kidnapped by Rahwana the giant -- is saved by Hanoman the monkey, at the base of the National Monument.

Their performance will involve the projecting of images onto the column of the monument to create a giant shadow in order to symbolize Indonesia's release from the grip of the Dutch colonial powers, Hubert said.

The fireworks will complement the action on the ground in an explosion of patriotic symbolism.

Painting the sky with fireworks is his passion, said Hubert, who has spent six months preparing for his show in Jakarta.

This passion has led him all around the world. His fireworks have entertained at a birthday party for Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stone in France in 1976, at the Cannes Film Festival, in Algeria for its Independence Day's anniversary and in Shanghai, China, for the opening ceremony of the First East Asian Games in 1993.

Hubert's passion is supported by the fact that the French love fireworks. There is no Bastille Day without fireworks in France. In the 18th century, French King Louis XV enthusiastically supported the art of fireworks which is said to have originated in China. Currently there are around 12 fireworks factories in France. Euro Disneyland in Paris has started further developing the art in cooperation with Hubert, whose 20-year-old son has joined him in the field.

Pyrotechnics is an art, Hubert exclaimed, adding that every fireworks artist has their own style in presenting their works.

"Some love big booms. For me, the big bang is not substantial. My style is a slow and poetic one, but I also use big booms from time to time," Hubert said, recalling his experience in Shanghai, where he put 10,000 small fireworks on 10,000 bicycles, which made a one-kilometer-long line.

But aren't fireworks considered dangerous because they contain gunpowder or other explosive chemical compounds?

"Don't worry, it is quite safe. Look at me, I am still alive," countered Hubert, laughing as he held out his hands as if counting his fingers. (als)