Indonesian kites becoming more attractive

Indonesian kites becoming more attractive

Bambang Parlupi, Jakarta

Flying kites as a hobby has been developing rapidly in
Indonesia, with various types and motifs now appearing to add
more color to this outdoor pursuit and its changing functions.

Historically, kites were first known in human civilization
around 3,000 years ago in China. From there, kites began to
spread to the other Asian regions like Korea, Japan, the Malay
archipelago and India. In Europe, the ancient Greeks were the
first to develop the airborne toys.

According to the book Making Kites written by Rhoda Baker and
Miles Denger, the word "kite" is derived from the name of a
magnificent and graceful bird of prey. Kites have been used by
different nations to serve various functions since antiquity.

Chinese traditional communities, for instance, fly butterfly
and bird kites for religious ceremonies. In Korea, there is the
unique tradition of writing a newborn baby's name on a kite,
which is then flown and left gliding in the air. Some Koreans
believe that the released kite will rid the infant of evil
spirits and their influence.

Some Japanese use the airborne "puppets" as a means of
enlivening social celebrations. At such festivals, people join
hands to fly very large, long kites. In 169 BC, a general in
China was said to have boarded a giant kite to observe enemy
maneuvers. "In ancient times, kites already supported the war
machine," said Indonesian kite enthusiast Zaenal Effendi.

The function of kites has also developed in several areas in
the country. In Javanese villages, kites are employed to drive
away insects and wild birds in paddy fields. More uniquely,
fishermen in Lampung use traditional kites for fishing.

The flying of kites as a spiritual gesture has become a custom
of Bali's predominantly Hindu people to express gratitude to God
for soil fertility.

Zaenal, nicknamed Eddie, claims that the history of kites
began in Indonesia. The man, now in his sixties, who once entered
national and international kite festivals, said Indonesia's
ancient men used kites extensively. "In the interior of Sulawesi,
primitive paintings depicting people playing with airborne
puppets were discovered on cave walls. They are estimated to date
from over 3,000 years ago -- before China's kites," he indicated.

Museum already established

Some blame kites for spoiling the landscape around kite
playgrounds. In the kite-flying season, usually coinciding with
school vacations, state electricity company PLN and
telecommunications corporation Telkom often gets complaints about
power line and network trouble. Kite frames and strings become
entangled in cables and disturb power or telephone installations.
"Therefore, So we want to change the bad image of kites and make
them part of the nation's art and culture," Eddie assured.

Meanwhile, in order to maintain kite development as a leisure
activity, a center for the safekeeping and display of a wide
range of kites from all over the country has been established.
Named the Indonesian Museum of Kites, it is the only museum of
its the kind ever set up in Indonesia, which has been open to the
public since March 21, 2003.

So far it has collected more than 350 kites from different
parts of this country, as well as other countries. Its founder,
art patron Endang W. Puspoyo, also known as a beautician, has
been active in the kite-lovers community since 1989. Her great
interest in this pursuit was manifested in the opening of the
kite museum, with the noble aim of safeguarding this distinctive
aspect of Indonesian culture, while also providing an educational
and scientific tourist attraction.

An array of kites in a variety of forms and designs are neatly
arranged in one of South Jakarta's tourist spots. Its rare
collection includes the smallest kite, whole-leaf kites and
decades-old, yet well preserved ones.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Fridays, the museum
has a collection from virtually the entire country, besides some
foreign items. Visitors need only to buy entry tickets worth Rp
5,000 per person.

Kite-making skills

The 3,000 square meter building has workshop rooms where brief
kite-making classes are provided. Under the guidance of
experienced instructors, visitors can try to build kites by
simple methods.

Not surprisingly, the museum's guests comprise children,
teenagers and adults. "Visitors in groups are taught how to
construct kites after observing the kite varieties on display,"
said Nia, a museum staffer. The course taken by kindergarten
children or first- and second-graders, however, instructs them
only in creative skills like coloring techniques and paper-
folding to create kite forms.

Primary school students from third to sixth grades, according
to Nia, are taught how to make kites in their popular diamond
form, while being also introduced to a variety of other
traditional shapes. Junior and senior high school students are
instructed in kite-building techniques, including measurement,
balance calculation and assembly.

For material cost reimbursement, participants only have to pay
Rp 200,000 for 20 children and three attendants, as against Rp
250,000 for 20 students of third to sixth grades. In addition,
the museum's instructors are frequently invited to various events
to introduce kite-making knowhow, such as birthday parties,
family receptions and short school courses.

Its popularity among educational circles has prompted some
local and foreign schools to make the museum a place of study,
creativity, practice and recreation. Its hundreds of daily
visitors include students from several international schools like
the Jakarta International School, British International School
and Australian International School, which have sought to learn
how to build Indonesian kites, knowledge that was in danger of
being lost forever.

Indonesian Kite Museum

Jl.Haji Kamang No. 38

Pondok Labu

Jakarta Selatan 12450

tel. 7658075, fax. 7505112

website: www.merindokites.com