Papuan artists to display their works

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)