Visitors impressed by exciting table-setting show
Visitors impressed by exciting table-setting show
By Joko E.H. Anwar
JAKARTA (JP): An exhibition showing exciting table settings in
various styles, at the Bidakara complex on Jl. Gatot Subroto,
South Jakarta, has proven to be more than just a culinary and
silverware fanfare.
Several visitors, at the four-day event that opened on
Thursday, told The Jakarta Post that they were impressed with the
exhibition.
"I didn't think that it was going to be this interesting. I
have to go now but I'll be back again tomorrow," one of the
visitors, housewife Mrs. Arifin Siregar, said.
Another visitor, Tini Firdaus, shared the same opinion.
She said she was especially amazed by the brilliant ideas for
the decorations and accessories used for the table settings.
"Did you see a table setting with a beautiful batik table
cloth over there?" Tini said.
Participants of the exhibition came from various backgrounds,
including, furniture gallery owners, fashion designers, school of
arts students and of course, housewives.
The exhibition was part the Table and Food Festival
Extravaganza 2000, organized by the Sekar Saji Nusantara
Foundation.
One of the most attractive tables in the hall was the one
designed by well-known batik designer, Iwan Tirta.
Titled A Royal Ngayogyakarta, it was set on a one meter by
three meters table covered with a batik cloth, complete with
kraton (Javanese sultanate) style silverware.
Among the silver handicrafts on the table were a miniature
royal cart adorned with a dragon's head.
Tini said the exhibition would help promote table settings in
the country.
"If people become more familiar with the various types of
table settings, especially those using specially crafted
silverware, craftsmen will benefit as they will be able to sell
more of their products," Tini said.
Another setting titled Lebaran Celebration, was dominated by
various kinds of spices. Every plate, on the intentionally
unfinished table setting, was laid with a pair of long cinnamon
sticks to represent chopsticks.
An ingenious setting called Asmat Ambience displayed
traditional Asmat tribe potteries against a modern backdrop.
Students
The festival also featured some designs by students from art
schools.
A female student from the Jakarta Art Institute (IKJ), Indah
Tjahyawulan, designed a table setting with various Betawi (native
Jakartan) ornaments and named it Jakarta Molek (Lovely Jakarta).
A bread shaped like a crocodile, usually used in Betawian wedding
ceremonies, added a special touch on this already attractive
table.
Art school students from Trisakti University had a unique
style of presentation.The students built a "kitchen" at their
stand, complete with a decorated table, hand-made potteries and
wall decorations.
"Every item displayed here was made by us," one of the
students, Dewi, told the Post.
Some contemporary settings was also highlighted in the
festival.
A setting titled Birds of Paradise used various mock birds
effectively, while another called Spring Celebration used many
kinds of flowers which left a pleasant fragrance around the
setting.
Besides featuring the country's traditional settings, the
festival also showcased table arrangements from Japan, China and
the Middle East.
The Middle Eastern settings were displayed along with some
beautiful paintings, while the Japanese-style table settings had
the classic Ikebana flower arrangements.
The festival also exhibited various local and international
cuisines. However, the food festival did not attract as many
visitors as the table setting exhibition.
The event was held to raise funds for health care and
scholarships, head of the organizing committee Yuna Nasution said
at the festival.
The Sekar Saji Nusantara foundation, founded on June 29, 1995,
had earlier launched a cookery book to raise funds for charity.
Among the foundation's board of advisors is former minister of
tourism, post and telecommunication Joop Ave.