SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART
at
CANDI SUKUH, MOUNT LAWU
Karanganyar, Central Java

Friday, 31 December 2010 and Saturday, 1 January 2011

Candi are one of the traces of the history of civilizations and cultures. In the time of the societies where a candi was built, the temple had a context of life. In this era, a candi can function as a source of creativity and a source for creating environmental art.

In 2005 the vicinity of Mount Lawu in Central Java was declared as Taman Budaya Gunung Lawu – Mount Lawu Cultural Garden during a national seminar joined by the Director-General for History and Archaeology of the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism as well as Dr. Paramasari Dirgahayu (LPPM - Community Welfare Research Association), artists and culture specialists.

The area of Mount Lawu is not only important as it is a forest preserve that we must safeguard and conserve, yet also as there are multiple candi sites from the lower ridges to the mountain peak; such as Sukuh, Cetho, Pelanggatan, Panggung (Tawangmangu), and Kethek temples among others. As well, there are customs and traditions held annually for the Javanese month of Suro such as ritual offering ceremonies for the safety and welfare of villagers, humankind and nature of Indonesia, and broadly. These traditions include, for example, the ceremonies of Wahyu Kliyu, Patra Dita, Pasar Kumandang, Mandasiya, Surya Jawi (a purification ceremony with horses in the Tawangmangu region) among others, particularly in the Karanganyar regency.

These candi sites are cultural preserves, such as Candi Suku and Candi Cetho with bas-relief of Dewaruci, Sudamala, and Garudeya that are a point of continuity from the 14th and 15th centuries to the present era of the Unity of the Republic of Indonesia. Dewaruci bas-relief convey teachings of inner enlightenment, the Sudamala narrative is related to the purification of Durga transformed to a being of beauty, as well the Garudeya narrative is where the Garuda became a national symbol in the form of Garuda Kepancasilaan (five life principles), with its philosophy of Bhinneka Tunggal Eka – Unity in Diversity.

These ideas can be a reference, a spirit, and an inspiration in the process of actualizing the values of the poet-sages’ heritage such that it can be very useful for the development of cultural art in Indonesia particularly and the world in general. The role of SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART feels very vital in this seventh year. This can be seen by the number of artists and culture specialists ready to join in efforts to self-reflect and unfold dignified creations from each artist with traditional people’s customs art and modern artworks in the expressive field of human nature and God.

This gathering also feels very important if we see that in this era a value change has occurred in terms of the people’s customary arts and Indonesian traditions due to a friction between the traditional world (customs and traditions) and the development of a global world. This causes confusion for Indonesian people regarding the future value of their traditions. One feels very much a separateness of outer form and inner contents that then pressures tradition to be merely a touch in entertainment for tourism packages, television and so forth. It is hoped that SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART can contribute to the strength of the growth capacity for Indonesian arts and culture.

By the name SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART this celebration hopes to still have a feeling of togetherness, mutual cooperation, conveying feeling, being in feeling, and informal speaking together among observers, critics, and presenters. The words Seni Candi / Temple Art aspire to draw inspiration from the bas-relief narratives, nature architecture, and local communities.

AIMS and ASPIRATIONS
Convening SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART with varied dialogues and performances by diverse groups and artists from several regions of Indonesia aspires to:
-- refresh the spirit of art-making through the roots of candi culture
-- yield a meeting and acquaintance among all participants
-- bring forth an awareness of growing a network of art practitioners
-- increase visitations to the Karanganyar Regency tourism sites


ACTIVITIES
-- ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES
by invited artists and groups and open for the public
-- CONNECTING FEELING
daily seminars with themes revolving around the arts and culture and sourced in candi culture
-- EVENING OF SOLITUDE
from 31 December 2010 approaching 1 January 2011.


In implementing the 2011 program Padepokan Lemah Putih is cooperating with several associations such as: the Karanganyar Regency National Tourism Directorate, East Java Arts Council, Association of Faiths toward God the Great Unity, City of Solo Management Council, sponsors and donors.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Secretariat Srawung Seni Candi
c/o Padepokan Lemah Putih
Bonorejo RT 01 RW 02 Plesungan – Gondangrejo
Karanganyar, Central Java 57111 Indonesia


Padepokan Lemah Putih
P.O. Box 301
Solo, Central Java 57100 Indonesia
Phone: (+62) 271 8503050
Email: (info@lemahputih.com)
Website: (www.lemahputih.com)

　
Chairperson - Suprapto Suryodarmo
Padepokan Lemah Putih
Mobile: +6281548511018
Committee Chair - W.R. Nur Utami
Mobile: +6281393777017
Secretary - Retno Sayekti Lawu
Mobile: +6285647443011


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PROGRAM SCHEDULE (in process)


FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2010

9:00 to 11:20 a.m.
PRELUDE
-- Reog Kemuning
-- Procession by HPK Surakarta, HPK Karanganyar, and Forum Boworoso Tosan Aji
-- "Dewi Ruci" with Waluyo and Rusini (Solo, Central Java)

OPENING of SRAWUNG SENI CANDI
by Mr. Hari Untoro Drajat (Multicultural specialist, Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism)

INITIATION of TEMPLE ART PRACTITIONERS NETWORK
by KP Sulistyo Tirtokusumo (Director of Arts, Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism)

ART OFFERINGS
-- Miroto (Yogyakarta)
-- Theresa Burke (Ireland)
-- Andrew Carey (United Kingdom)
-- Maya Cockburn (Ireland)
-- Annie Brook (United States)


11:20 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
REST


1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
SEMINAR with
Mrs. Catrini P. Kubontubuh, M.Arch (Exec. Dir. Indonesian Heritage Trust – BPPI)
Dwi Cahyono (Cultural Observer/writer – East Java)
Henri Nurcahyo (Artist – East Java)
Mugiono Kasido (Dancer/choreographer – Solo, Central Java)
Sandra Reeve, Ph.D. (Move into Life – United Kingdom)

3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
ART OFFERINGS
-- Usha Mahenthiralingam (United Kingdom)
-- Clare Ballard (United Kingdom)
-- Seni Teku (Yogyakarta)

4:45 to 7:00 p.m.
REST


7:00 p.m. to pass into 1 January 2011
MALAM TIRAKATAN / EVENING OF SOLITUDE
supported by
HPK Solo branch
HPK Karanganyar branch
Forum Boworoso Tosan Aji Sudjatmoko

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SATURDAY, 1 JANUARY 2011

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
PRELUDE
Sahita
PROCESSION
Local societies and participants


9:30 to 11:50 a.m.
ART OFFERINGS
-- Reog Bayu Seto (Sukoharjo)
-- Djarot B Darsono (Solo, Central Java)
-- Hinaq Denga'an (Kutai, Kalimantan)
-- I Wayan Sadra (Solo, Central Java)
-- Agung Rama Putra (Bali)
-- Saille Mawson (Scotland)
-- Theresa O'Driscoll (Ireland)
-- Lynda Bransbury (United Kingdom)
-- Leonie Northfield (Australia)


11:50 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
REST

1:00 to 4:10 p.m.
ART OFFERINGS
-- Sandra Reeve (United Kingdom)
-- Frances Mezzeti (Scotland)
-- Britta Goellner (Germany)
-- Laura O Brien (Ireland), Annie Brook (United States), Cempluk Lestari (Solo, Central Java)
-- Estefania Pifano (Venezuela)
-- APPAKIA (Makassar, South Sulawesi)
-- Ketoprak Ngampung (Solo, Central Java)

　
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SRAWUNG SENI CANDI – SHARING TEMPLE ART at Candi Suku on Mount Lawu, Central Java is a forum that aims to be useful for the development of the artistic world and tourism, especially for artists or groups that join, whether as presenters, specialists, or observers. It is hoped that Srawung Seni Candi will be an activity that receives positive response and support from various sectors, so that it may continue as an annual agenda and that its quality will increase in forthcoming years.
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"Tari Panyembahan" directed by Ari Kuntet (Solo, Central Java) for Srawung Seni Candi 2009. Photo © 2009 KOMPAS by Heri Sri Kumoro.