Jakarta hosts Yogyakarta cultural fair at WTC

Jakarta hosts Yogyakarta cultural fair at WTC

Yogyakarta is said to be the heart and soul of Javanese culture. But, like man, no city is an island. Consequently, Yogyakarta has to deal with the impact of modernization and urbanization. Thus, inhabitants and visitors alike often express disappointment over how little of Yogyakarta's legendary heritage nowadays can be explored.

That there is still a vivid cultural scene, is shown at the sixth Gelar Seni Budaya Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Art and Cultural Exhibition).

This year's event, which is held to commemorate the 249th anniversary of Negari Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (the Kingdom of Yogyakarta) and has the purpose of promoting the potential of the Yogyakarta Special Territory (DIY), focuses on several activities.

An educational exhibition is carried out at Artha Gading Mall, North Jakarta, to further introduce the various types of educational programs and the favorable atmosphere for students of numerous subject areas to be found in the city.(see Where to go section for details)

On Tuesday and Wednesday, an investment exhibition was held at World Trade Center, Central Jakarta, comprising of a panel discussion, regents' presentations and individual business meetings.

Also at WTC, Yogyakarta painting and batik exhibitions are on display.

The official opening of the fair on Tuesday, conducted by Yogyakarta Deputy Governor Sri Paduka Paku Alam IX was enriched by a performance of a menak dance (a dance depicting women warriors preparing for battle).

In WTC's atrium, visitors can learn a lot about Yogyakarta batik, considered to be the most traditional in Indonesia.

About 260 patented patterns from private collections are on display and women members of Sekar Jagad Association Yogyakarta, (Yogyakarta batik lovers and makers association) among them two aunts of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, can be watched as they make batik on the place.

Ibu Suliantoro Sulaeman, head of the association and a batik- maker for more than 50 years, told The Jakarta Post:

"In earlier centuries, making batik was a common hobby for women. They didn't do it to sell their work, but as a pastime and to produce some of the family's clothes themselves."

"Until today, making batik is still an occupation for women, which suits our culture. They can work at home and still be good mothers for their children."

The batik-purists at the WTC feel the need to promote real handmade batik at a time when most customers are more concerned with buying clothes as cheaply as possible.

Ibu Suliantoro said: "There is a lot of false batik on the market. Even many of the well-off people attending the opening are wearing cheap fakes. Thus, there is a veritale danger of traditional batik disappearing."

As authenticity and quality are usually quite costly, one will spend between Rp 400,000 and Rp 10 million for a 105 centimeter- by-250 centimeter piece of original batik.

Titus Budisusatyo, another member of Sekar Jagad, explained what determines a batik's price: "First it depends on whether the design is painted by hand or stamped onto the cloth. Then whether silk or cotton and whether natural or chemical colors are used. Moreover, one has to take into account the complexity of the motif and the number of colors used."

"What is important to know as well is that up to 16 layers of paint will be needed. Altogether, to make a piece of batik cloth may take up to a year," he said.

Besides this fascinating and educative journey through the world of Yogyakarta's batik, there is a lot more to see at the WTC.

In the lobby and the atrium, the exhibition Sapaan a la Jogja is showing about 100 recent works from both well-established and upcoming Yogyakarta painters.

The techniques chosen and subjects depicted frequently represent a perfect synthesis between the long-standing and the modern.

Thus, even if unintentionally, the artists make clear one thing: The two can go together just fine in Yogya.

in box:

Gelar Seni Budaya Yogyakarta VI batik exhibition through Dec. 9 (9 a.m. through 6 p.m.) paintings exhibition through Dec. 11 (10 a.m. 4 p.m.) in the lobby and atrium of World Trade Center, Jl. Sudirman kav.29-31, Central Jakarta