Papuan artists to display their works

JAKARTA (JP): For decades, the artwork of native Papua (Irian Jaya) has always captivated ethnic art enthusiasts around the globe.

The indigenous people living deep in the hinterland of the easternmost territory are renowned for their unique wood carving and primitive statues.

In the coming days you don't have to go all the way to Irian Jaya to enjoy the unusual works of art. In fact, two indigenous artists--tree bark painter Agustinus Ongge and woodcarver Icnacius Nicolaus Owiok Halukare--have come here to Hotel Borobudur to showcase their works. A Javanese artist H Hardi, will also display his Irian-themed artworks.

The exhibits include bark paintings and the colorful koteka (penis sheath).

Organized by the Tokyo-based Indonesian Culture Plaza (GBI) founded by Japanese journalist Seiichi Okawa, who organized the event, the show will be officially opened on Friday (Oct. 20) evening. It will be open to the public the next day until Oct. 26 with viewing hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Apart from the exhibition, a three-hour discussion with artists, art lovers and observers will be held at the hotel on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m.

The two native artists were brought all the way from Papua by Okawa for this exhibition.

Through his 21 works, Icnacius Nicolaus Owiok Haluk from Sipkosi village in Wamena valley will showcase Papua's unique and well-known woodcarving.

One of his extraordinary works to be put on display is a statue of a sitting mummy with its hands holding his legs while its eyes are gazing down, as if in deep thought. The exquisite piece wears a feather headband and a necklace made of pig's fangs and sea shells around its neck.

The 41-year-old Haluk is a self-trained woodcarver. He was first inspired to create a woodcarving piece after seeing a tree shaped like a human figure in 1981. His first statue was sold for only Rp 3,000 at the local market.

His luck turned 11 years later when he brought his works to the house of the then Jayawijaya regent, who at first did not believe Haluk really had the talent. But after seeing Haluk demonstrate his skills in front of his eyes, the regent became absolutely sure and he became the artist's sole buyer. Then he sent Haluk to study woodcarving in Java in 1994. Since then, Haluk has taken part in some local exhibitions.

He was "discovered" by Okawa who was fascinated by the artist's great talent five years ago.

Okawa, a former Tokyo-based correspondent for Tempo weekly magazine and now head of Gamma weekly magazine's bureau in Tokyo, set up GBI in 1998.

Okawa has long been emotionally tied to Indonesia. In 1974, he led a scientific study group from his university, Waseda University in Tokyo, to do culture-anthropology research in then Irian Jaya and after working for a private television, he made a documentary film at the border of Jayawijaya and Merauke.

Since GBI was set up in 1998, it has held various Indonesian- themed exhibitions displaying, among other things, Asmat statues and woven fabrics from Timor and Sumba. It has also held an Indonesian children's stories festival and a young filmmakers film festival.

Bark painting

Agustinus Ongge whose works also feature in the show is a tree bark painter from Asei village near Sentani Lake in Jayapura, where most of the tribespeople earn their living from art.

Through his 21 paintings, Ongge will show his loyalty toward his ancestors' traditional motifs and patterns. Most of the bark painting's themes are closely related to the tribe's spiritual beliefs while some display their daily activities.

He paints animals such as lizards traditionally believed to have supernatural powers, the painting serving as a homage to these forces.

Ongge creates his canvas from pouw tree bark that he gets from Sentani forest. In the process, he still follows the tribe's old beliefs, such as taking the tree bark only during full moon. According to the myth, the tree bark will be broken if he does not stick to the belief.

He makes his brush from rattan by way of pounding a piece until its fibers turn soft like feather.

Ongge's paintings are dominated by red, white and black, symbols of power. All of the colors are composed of natural materials. Red is made from pounded mountain rock, white from pounded sea shells and black from charcoal.

Ongge has taken part in several exhibitions, such as a trade and tourism exhibition in Jakarta in 1992, Bali International Cultural Festival in Denpasar in 1994 and international exhibitions in Darwin, Australia in 1998 and 1999.

The painter H.R. Soehardi, better known as H. Hardi, will display some of his works, including painted koteka which come in bright colors and different shapes and sizes.

The 49-year-old Hardi, who was born in Blitar, started painting in Bali in 1970 before continuing his study at the Surabaya Fine Arts Academy and Indonesian Arts Institute in Yogyakarta.

He has taken part in various exhibitions both in Indonesia and abroad. His last two exhibitions were held last year at the GBI in Tokyo and his solo exhibition at Hotel Sahid Jaya, Jakarta. (ste)