Young glassmaker creates oversized portrait of sultan

Young glassmaker creates oversized portrait of sultan

Ridlo Aryanto, Contributor, Jakarta

An imposing glass ornament showing the crowning of Yogyakarta
King Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in 1989 greets everyone visiting
the Jogja Expo Center, the city's grandest convention building.

Those who think that the exotic, detailed and elegant creation
is the work of a famous and reputable glass craftsman will be
surprised to find out that it was created by a young, 26-year-old
craftsman, Dedy Sindutomo.

Using colored glass imported from the U.S., Dedy managed to
complete the 10 meter by 16 meter royal figure in two months.

"It's a special order and I was told that the king was
satisfied with the glass image," Dedy said proudly.

Born in Yogyakarta on May 31, 1976, the father of two has
produced other notable art pieces.

His other creations include a calligraphy piece at
Yogyakarta's Gajah Mada University's mosque, Jesus' Last Supper
at the Tridadi church in Sleman, ornaments at Gadjah Wong
restaurant by Gadjah Wong river and in all rooms of the
Muhammadiyah central board's new headquarters, Gedoeng
Nuhammadiyah.

He said that the Muhammadiyah office also has exclusive
ornaments in the office of its board chairman Prof. Syafie
Maarif. "During the process of making the glasswork, Prof. Syafie
Maarif helped to contribute ideas for some designs," said the
West Sumatra native.

The son of late Ishak Djulis, owner of Surya Padang restaurant
with six outlets in Yogyakarta, Dedy first learned glassmaking
skills from art books by Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) lecturer
Wiyono. He later on had actual training with the author himself,
who helped Dedy with his first drafts and guided him.

Now the young man, who started his glassmaking business after
his father's death in 1996, is the proprietor of Trimulyo Glass
with two workshops and 18 workers assisting him in Kronggahan and
Janti, Yogyakarta.

The glass business helped introduce Dedy, a wayward student
during his school days, who frequently instigating student
brawls, to Bagong Sulaeman, a senior glass craftsman in the city.
Bagong, who exported his products, awakened Dedy's interest in
glasswork.

"With self-confidence, anyone can learn the skill," said the
man who had tried his luck opening a sidewalk food stall -- which
was short-lived, and later, a glass shop with his two friends
that also closed after a while.

As more craftsmen show interest in the business, it has become
more competitive.

Other glass craftsmen, for instance, price a square meter of
glasswork at Rp 2 million, while Dedy offers them at Rp 1.25
million. Still, he is still able to make an average 30 percent
profit while maintaining the quality of his product.

When asked to compare the profits gained from a Padang food
restaurant and from glassmaking, he said his glasswork could earn
him about Rp 120 million in normal orders a month while a
restaurant business might give him unlimited income, if the
business runs smoothly.

"But the glass business has turned out to be more than just
about money. I can come close to public figures and this gives me
invaluable spiritual satisfaction not found in running any
restaurant," he said.

Still, he regrets that his father could not see his present
achievements. "My delinquent behavior made him very sad. He would
surely be proud if he was alive to see this."