JakartaPost-Sept 1, 2022
In a country with strong religious underpinnings, Indonesian ethnic artists face unique challenges in pursuing their craft and preserving their cultures. Jesral Tambun, 36, could not do much when the woodcarving he made for a homestay was rejected. His creation featured gorga: decorative motifs derived from Batak mythology. But his client did not seem to agree with the underlying philosophy of his carving art. “When it was done, the [carving] I made was deleted and replaced” with a gorga design taken from the internet, the panggorga (gorga artist) from Toba regency, North Sumatra, told The Jakarta Post. The gorga design I made was not in accordance with his religious beliefs,” said Jesral. The country’s ethnic artists face many challenges in a society steeped in the teachings of six official religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism. The confluence of established religions and the belief systems of over 1,300 ethnic cultures in Indonesia is, at times, the reason that ethnic art lacks public appreciation and acceptance. This is also why many artists, including art graduates from universities, choose to pursue realist, abstract, installation and other contemporary or Western genres. However, for a small number of artists, ethnic art is a calling or destined path. Read more at:
