Gallis and Rakidi, faces behind the masks
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Sun atakon si jabang sapa aran ira
Lan sira bocah sing endi
Mbok bapan ira sapa
Bagus aran ira
Raman ira sing nyukani
(I ask the baby what is your name?
And where do you come from?
Who are your mother and father?
Your name is good.
'Twas your father named you)
Thus was a line from the song Durma, which opened the mask exhibition by duo Gallis AS and Rakidi of Sanggar Paseban titled Topeng dari Wajah Sendiri (Masks of Our Faces) at the British Council in Jakarta on Oct. 15.
The song is traditionally sung at the naming ceremony for a new baby in Indramayu, West Java, and in this case it described the bond between the sculptor and his masks.
Our own masks meaning the masks we hide behind in facing the world, "nggal wong nggo kedok na tujuan" (everyone wears a mask each with a purpose) Rakidi sang, his voice sometimes obscured by the tall bookshelves as he walked among them.
Meanwhile Gallis roamed around the library wearing four masks at the same time. A black mask on his face often falling to reveal the naked face behind it, before he quickly covered it up again.
Gallis and Rakidi, with 13 years between them, represent a new line of mask makers.
"The artists come from different traditions, Rakidi rooted in the Indramayu tradition, whereas Gallis' masks are contemporary," Muriel Dunbar, British Council deputy director said during the opening.
Although different in style and tradition, the masks created by both Gallis and Rakidi never left their original purpose as a tool to enhance the experience of the performing arts.
Gallis, 37, whose real name is Agus Sunardi, started sculpting masks in 1990 in the Balinese tradition with I Made Sija. Born out of the need to create masks for the theater, this dancer and actor explored the art further to create his own contemporary creations.
Some of his masks have been used in theater performances including Intip (peep) in Teater Gerak's Dreams performed in Postdam, Germany, in 1996, and Kop for collaborative work of This Not Ramakien in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1997.
Using the wood from the angsana tree (pterocarpus indicus), Gallis's masks are smooth and unmarked by paint. Arkhetipe (double masks) for example are two masks on top of each other, the upper with its eyes open and the bottom eyes closed, both serene as if nothing could disturb their peace.
The younger of the two artists, Rakidi, 24, never left the Indramayu mask tradition and its Tari Topeng (mask dance).
Unlike Gallis's unadorned creations, Rakidi's masks are rich in color. And true to the tradition of Panji (11th century stories of a Javanese nobleman's search for his lost love), Rakidi's masks often depict the righteous Panji character, the antagonist Kelana, as well as the comic reliefs Bagong and Togog.
Rakidi, who comes from a family of traditional artists, said that he began sculpting masks in 1995 simply because he wanted to own his own tari topeng mask.
"Masks are special, sacred, they are not toys so children cannot play with them. They're also expensive and beautiful," he said, explaining his love for the mask.
From his first creation, the simple Panji mask, Rakidi's masks slowly gained renown and were used in the tari topeng performances by Sanggar Mulya Bhakti, his uncle's dance troupe.
In the exhibition, Rakidi also showcased what he considered his masterpiece, the 16.2 centimeter by 13.7 centimeter Panji mask he made this year.
"I've never made a mask like that before, it is my best work," Rakidi said, adding that while he never made any special preparations before sculpting, he believes that fasting and meditating before making masks would make the creation even more beautiful.
Topeng dari Wajah Sendiri exhibition runs until Dec. 30, 2002, at the British Council exhibition area. Be sure to browse through the bookshelves for hidden masks and look out for masks set on the ceiling. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information please contact British Council Jakarta, S. Widjojo Center 1st Floor, Jl Jend. Sudirman Kav. 71, Jakarta, tel. 021-2524115, or Sanggar Paseban, tel. 021-3914945.