Malang's mask puppets wait for new talents

Malang's mask puppets wait for new talents

By Tarko Sudiarno and Nugroho CH

MALANG, East Java (JP): The charm of the mask puppet show is
too strong for Mohammad Soleh Adi Pramono to resist, luring him
away from his teaching career at Malang's Teachers Training
Institute to develop and preserve the traditional show.

It is not too surprising, really, considering it is in his
show; the 49-year-old is a direct descendent of the pioneers of
the mask puppet show in Malang. However, the decision to dedicate
his life to the traditional show did not come easy, and was only
reached after a long and complicated process.

After graduating from high school in 1972, Soleh studied the
Javanese orchestra kerawitan at a conservatory in Surabaya. After
his graduation in 1975, he worked at the Malang office of the
ministry of education and culture, where he stayed for four
years.

Soleh moved to Yogyakarta in 1979 to continue his studies at
the Yogyakarta Indonesia Arts Institute, where he studied dance
until his graduation in 1984. After finishing his studies, he
accepted an offer to work as a lecturer at the Teachers Training
Institute. Although he enjoyed his new career, he soon felt
trapped in his routine and began to feel uneasy.

After working as a lecturer for five years, he decided it was
time to make a move, setting up the Mangun Dharma arts retreat in
his hometown of Tulusayu village, Tumpang district, Malang
regency. Through this retreat, Soleh planned to preserve and
develop the mask puppet show he inherited from his ancestors.

The decision to completely quit his career as a lecturer was
made in 1992, after he realized he was spending more time at his
new retreat instead of lecturing.

"I didn't want to get paid for doing nothing," Soleh said.

The arts retreat does not only preserve and develop the mask
puppet show, but also others arts and crafts, such as mask
carving and the leather puppet tradition.

Soleh, in cooperation with Malang's Merdeka University, has
accepted at the retreat students from Japan and the United States
who wish to study the traditional puppet show from Malang. He
ended up marrying one of his foreign students, Elizabeth from the
United States, and they now have two daughters.

Origin

There is no accurate data about when the mask puppet show
first appeared in Malang. According to information in the
libraries, the show first was performed sometime in the 8th
century during the Gajayana kingdom in Malang. But according to
stories handed down from one generation to the next, the
tradition was developed during the early 20th century.

According to the stories, there were at least two important
figures responsible for the development of the mask puppet
tradition. They were Mbah Reni, a dancer and mask carver from
Polowijen village, and Kakek Ruminten, a puppeteer. Ruminten was
said to have a loyal student named Tirtowinoto from Tulusayu
village, and Mohammad Soleh is Tirtowinoto's grandchild.

The mask puppet show is basically a dance drama with stories
taken from numerous sources, but mostly based on the stories of
the Panji. All of the characters wear distinctive masks. The
traits of the character also can be identified through the color
of the masks. Red, for instance, reflects a character who will
easily get angry, while white is for an honest character.

The arts center now has around 560 students. Still, Soleh
finds it difficult to develop the traditional show. For this, he
realizes he needs more time and perseverance.

At least he can take pride in the presence at the center of
three great artists, Rasimun, 79, Gimun, 76, and Jakimin, 77.

Although he cannot hear, Rasimun has no difficulty following
the rhythm of the gamelan and playing the role of his character
in the show. These three artists are still a match for the
younger performers.

But Soleh worries about the age of these great artists.

"How long can Pak Rasimun, Gimun and Jakimun continue? The
mask puppet world will loss great artists when they are gone,"
said Soleh, who has videotaped performances by the three artists
to help younger artists study and learn the traditional show.