Of art and materialism
Of art and materialism
To mark Indonesia's 50th anniversary, President Soeharto
witnessed last month the maiden flight of the N-250, a plane
built by the IPTN aircraft company in Bandung. Last weekend the
President opened the Istiqlal Festival in Jakarta, at which a
special volume of the Koran, beautifully embellished with
traditional Indonesian art motifs, was unveiled.
The first is said to represent the nation's achievement in
science and technology, the second illustrates its spiritual and
artistic accomplishments. Although the nation's achievements
cannot really be determined by the work of one particular moment,
however lofty that work may be, the two events are good examples
of the traditional values of our society.
For a nation which has traditionally valued a harmonious
balance between the material and spiritual sides of life, the two
events are of equal importance. And, amidst the rapid advance of
modern consumerism and the increased intrusions of secular and
other alien cultural elements into our lives, a judicious
adherence to tradition seems all the more relevant.
Indonesians have started to complain about the omnipresence of
sex and violence on television and in movies, they complain about
the wealthy flaunting their fortunes, and of the growing tendency
to value material wealth above everything else. The government
has called on the rich not to parade their wealth, by abstaining
from extravagant wedding parties for example.
Many foreign diplomats have commented that ordinary Indonesian
weddings match lavish royal weddings in their home countries.
However, since the government's appeals have no real bite,
nothing seems to have changed. If anything, the display of wealth
seems to have increased. Social sensitivity is rare these days.
The lack of morality has reached alarming proportions,
especially in the domains of politics and business. Many leading
citizens and ministers call for a return to morals. If this
aspect of life is neglected, all development in the country will
be seen as flawed by the majority of Indonesians.
Hopefully the Istiqlal Festival will help remind everyone that
religious, cultural and moral values are inseparable parts of
lives. Supporting our material advances with our spiritual and
artistic accomplishments will show that we are civilized.