Tienuk Rifky, Yogyakarta's royal make-up woman
Tienuk Rifky, Yogyakarta's royal make-up woman
Ridlo Aryanto, Contributor, Yogyakarta
Feelings of unease briefly gripped distinguished guests and
court servants at Yogyakarta's royal wedding procession on
Tuesday, May 28 as strong winds blew around the court buildings.
The unexpected gusts of wind even toppled a pair of tall palm
fronds at the court's gate, where Yogyakarta's Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X welcomed President Megawati Soekarnoputri to
witness the royal couple -- the king's eldest daughter Gusti
Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun with Kanjeng Pangeran Harya Wironegoro.
The royal couple's make-up artist, Tienuk Rifky, watched the
phenomenon with apprehension because she was entrusted to ensure
a smooth Javanese wedding procession.
"At the time, I was surprised and thought, 'What's wrong?'. I
was afraid the offerings were not complete. But when (the
sultan's wife) Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas said it was OK, that it
was only the wind, I felt relieved," said the 52-year-old woman,
a seasoned expert in traditional bridal make-up who started her
career in 1974. She was entrusted with the rare task of dressing
and making up the eldest daughter of Yogyakarta's sultan.
"When given this job, ngarsa dalem (the sultan) reminded me of
the need to prepare the ceremonies by observing every detail so
that it would become a model for traditional weddings in the
Mataram style for Javanese society and the whole nation," she
said.
As professional make-up artist, she took the message
seriously.
"The key to success in handling bridal make-up is by
fulfilling the wishes of those holding the ceremony, including
the wishes of the bride and groom. Thank God I know Gusti Kanjeng
Ratu Pembayun (the bride) personally, so it's easier for me to
meet her wishes," Tienuk said.
Still, she felt necessary to consult BRM Dinu Satomo, a court
expert in Javanese protocol and cultural rites, and involved her
22 bridal make-up assistants.
She started working as the palace's make-up specialist in
1982. Tienuk performed several rituals, like fasting on Mondays
and Thursdays a month before the wedding ceremony as required by
ancient Javanese custom. The rituals are still believed to ensure
the wedding's safe and smooth progress.
She even took up ngerowot, a kind of fasting by only eating
tubers and crop products, while abstaining from meat to make sure
a smooth procession of the grand wedding.
Tienuk's career peaked when she was entrusted as make-up
artist for the coronation of Yogyakarta's sultan and his wife in
1989. Before handling the wedding of the sultan's eldest
daughter, Tienuk was also assigned to take care of the marriage
of Pembayun's younger sister Gusti Raden Ajeng Nurmagupita and
Suryokusumo in 1993.
"I've always tried to make the couple appear graceful and
radiant with enchanting auras. It's a crucial stage in midodareni
(the eve of the wedding) ceremony, where the bride must stay up
until midnight before the wedding ceremony takes place to enable
angels to enter her body the next day, which will make her appear
breathtakingly beautiful during the ceremony," she said.
So how much is she paid by the palace?
"I wouldn't dare ask. As the sultan's subject, entrusted to
serve his eldest daughter it is a great and invaluable blessing
for me. In fact, serving the palace's royal family is a form of
my devotion to my king," said Tienuk, who has often traveled
abroad with the sultan's wife on cultural missions.