Islamic art still in short of supply in RI

Islamic art still in short of supply in RI

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem art in Indonesia is not as varied or as
widespread as it should be in a country that adopted Islam
hundreds of years ago, a Moslem scholar said yesterday.

Moh. Ardani of the State Institute for Islamic Studies in
Jakarta said he believed Indonesia can produce a lot more works
of art that reflect the religion.

"What we have is not optimal yet. We only have certain works
of (Islamic) art, such as calligraphy and literature," Ardani
told a meeting being held on the sidelines of the ongoing second
Istiqlal Festival of Islamic Art and Culture at Jakarta's
Istiqlal Mosque.

He said works of art which integrate Islamic teachings and
traditional cultures can be considered Islamic art.

Ardani warned that Indonesia's traditional cultures and
religious values are now threatened by the intrusion of Western
culture, as a result of the rapid flow of information.

"We have to counter these (influences) with our own works of
art," he said.

Noted film director Chaerul Umam said the development of
Islamic arts in Indonesia should be the responsibility of
Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's reformist Moslem organization.

"Muhammadiyah has a good education tradition, compared with
other Islamic organizations. It runs educational institutions
everywhere -- from kindergartens to universities," Chaerul said.

"I wonder: Why they have not opened a special department in
their institutions which teaches art?" he asked.

Ali Yafie, a deputy chairman of the Indonesian Council of
Ulemas, said opening an Islamic arts department is not the only
way of promoting the development of Islamic arts in Indonesia.
"It can (also) be done by the publication of art works," he said.

Yafie said Islam's teachings are conducive to the development
of art works.

The language of the Koran reflects high literature; its
writing and the way the holy book should be recited are all arts,
he added.

Propagators

He noted that the early propagators of Islam in Java, known as
Wali Songo, used the wayang (shadow puppet theater), as their
medium for spreading the religion.

Chaerul announced yesterday that an international Islamic film
festival is being planned for next month, as part of the on-going
Istiqlal festival.

So far, India, Malaysia, Turkey and Uzbekistan, as well as
host Indonesia, have confirmed their participation in the
festival, scheduled to run from Nov. 13 until Nov. 17, Chaerul
said.

"We thought that Islamic countries didn't produce films. In
fact we were mistaken. So this is a good opportunity to learn
about other Moslem countries," he said.

The two-month Istiqlal Festival, which is being held at a cost
of Rp 10 billion (US$4.4 million), features various arts and
cultural products and performances that have been inspired by
Islam.

One gallery of the Istiqlal Mosque has been given over to a
display of various ancient and contemporary books and
manuscripts, including the Koran. (31)