'Sunken Kingdoms of Indonesia' opens at German museum

By Kunang Helmi Picard

HILDESHEIM, Germany (JP): Visitors to the Roemer-und Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim, Germany can see "Sunken Kingdoms of Indonesia", an important show of 252 artifacts celebrating Indonesia's 50th year of independence.

It is indeed a bumper year for Indonesia enthusiasts. They can travel around Europe studying several objects of pivotal importance before the objects are stashed away into the archives of various Indonesian and European museums. Some may remember various 1991 Festival of Indonesia (KIAS) exhibits in the U.S. The artifacts that are able to withstand the public exposure are included in the show, as well as stunning gold pieces from a recent, smaller Musee Guimet show in Paris.

The brunt of the work and research was done by Prof. Arne and Dr. Eva Eggebrecht from Hildesheim. The Eggebrecht team decided that a show spanning the cultural history of the Indonesian archipelago, from prehistoric times to the beginning of the 20th century, should be highlighted with the archeological discoveries of the Classical Period between 500 and 1500 A.D. They also wanted to underline the religious tolerance in Indonesia. Although it has the largest Moslem population in the world, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity are also respected. Therefore an important aspect of the show are the artifacts from the 8th and 9th centuries A.D. from the Borobudur temple and the gold and silver objects discovered in Plosokuning, Wonoboyo, Klaten, Central Java.

The motif on the show's posters, Shiwa Mahadewa, is counted amongst the world's largest and most beautiful bronze statues. Another precious object on show is the massive silver statue of the youthful Boddhisattwa Manjushri.

A 9.2 centimeter tall, 14th century gold statue of a nymph is also a show favorite. She holds her sarong with her left hand before her breast and the seam of her selendang (shawl) in her right to reveal her petticoat decorated with leaves and a kala (scorpion) head. This elegant repousse figure is reminiscent of Majapahit terra-cotta art.

The simplicity of a bronze of a man in Cibarusah, West Java is also striking. He wears a simple folded cloth on his head and a necklace of pearls completed by a single bracelet on each wrist. Experts still disagree on when it was made, but the posture of the man is that of a Dongson figure. Therefore, it is assumed that it portrays an early inhabitant of Java from around 100 A.D.

An even earlier piece from the island of Roti in 100 B.C., is a 150 cm tall bronze depiction of Surya Stambha from the Mpu Tantular Museum in Surabaya, East Java. There is also a Dongson drum similar to the moko drums of the island of Alor, East Nusa Tenggara.

Another lovely stone temple relief fragment, possibly from near the Prambanan temple or the Sorogedug plateau in Central Java, reveals either a god or a Boddhisattwa with a part of the halo and headdress still intact. This is followed by a 8th century copper plate representation of the Hariti with her son Priyankara from Cebongan in Java.

Figurative

The graceful engraving is the only remaining example of a figurative Buddhist dharani (mantra) from Central Java and gives visitors an idea of the epoch's wall painting style. Another delicate 70 centimeter-tall stone carving from the Kalasan temple in Central Java, dates from the 9th century and depicts either a goddess or queen relaxing on her throne. She holds a flower while a woman servant wields a fly-swatter. The fine details of the throne, the clothes and the jewelry of the figure, point to the possibility that they once belonged to a monument of high artistic quality.

Visitors may remember the statue of Prajnaparamita, goddess of transcendental wisdom from the Singasari temple in East Java, was displayed in "The Sculpture of Indonesia" show during the KIAS tour four years ago. Sitting in the lotus position of padmasana she exudes a wonderful intense withdrawal from mundane affairs while holding her hands in the dharmacakra mudra position. The finely worked and complicated decorations contrast with the simplicity of her facial expression. Her presence normally graces Museum Nasional in Jakarta, after having been brought in the last century to the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Another section of the show is devoted to the island of Bali and is opened by a magnificent gold dance crown from Klungkung. The over 100-year-old gold, ruby and rattan crown reveals an opulence which contemporary spectators will never see since costumes and headdresses are increasingly overcome by kitsch and flamboyance. The artful legong dance crown reflects the light of flickering torches while the tiny dancers flit and sway to the music. A pectoral of gold, rubies and diamonds from Klungkung joins the crown and also derives from the court of Klungkung. A pair of shoulder bracelets in gold and diamonds from Kutai, Kalimantan graced the region's dancers.

This and other jewelry are joined by the Balinese rebab (violin) fashioned out of wood, coconut, gold, silver, rubies, sapphires, semi-precious stones, crystal, horse-hair, parchment and velvet. It sits together with an elegant flute made from tortoise shell, wood, gold, rubies, diamonds and semi-precious stones.

A paidon (spittoon) made of gold from Riau Lingga accompanies 22-carat gold vases decorated with rubies to hold pinang (areca nut) and gambier. A pair of Balinese betel scissors in iron and gold remind visitors of the habit of chewing betel nut in Indonesia in the last century.

Another pair of Madurese golden containers of tobacco and sirih (betel) leaves is decorated with diagonal leaves and escorts a gold, ruby and diamond tobacco pipe from Lombok with an extravagant naga (dragon) mouthpiece. Further on in the dazzling display, a gold lance and a shield of gold and iron from Kalimantan sit together with a wonderful Lombok kris and sheath. Resplendent in wood, gold-leaf, rubies, diamonds and ivory, they remind spectators of the constant warfare between kingdoms. However, the magnificent Nagasasra kris from Cirebon, West Java recalls the fact that the kris indeed represents its owner and possesses spiritual qualities.

This kris is joined by others from Surakarta in Java and Klungkung in Bali, while an extremely rare 15th century gold kris handle from South Sulawesi belonging to a private collector is also on display.

The exhibition continues with rare wayang figures from Surakarta and Gianyar, Bali. A wonderful pohon kepuh (witch tree) from Gianyar leaps out at viewers together with a garuda (mythical bird) shadow puppet from this century. These are completed by a gunungan from Surakarta, part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Several fine masks from Pekalongan in Central Java and a special shadow puppet oil lamp of brass from Surabaya round-out the section devoted to theater. Several 100-year-old wayang golek puppets from West Java are exhibited near two stunning Balinese throne-like carved chairs painted in gold from the last century.

Several manuscripts sit with other stone artifacts and richly carved wooden doors from the palace of Klungkung.

The show runs through Nov. 26.

Note: Shiwa Mahadewa: the highest form of the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration, Shiva. Boddhisattwa Manjushri: the Buddha, who guides followers to Nirvana. Surya Stambha: the Sun God. Hariti: a Buddhist goddess who liked to eat children. She abstained with Buddha's guidance. moko: traditional drum from Alor, East Nusa Tenggara. padmasana: a lotus-shaped cushion. dharmacakra mudra: hands positioned as if they are spinning the wheel of law. gunungan: the mountain like figure in puppet play symbolizing the universe.