Light Dims Over World’s Wood Carving Center in Jepara

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

A craftsman puts finishing touches on a relief carving table on Tuesday (31/07/2018) in Senenan village, Tahunan district, Jepara regency, Central Java. Relief carving is a hallmark of the furniture and wood carving industry in Jepara, which is trying to bounce back following a downturn in 2015, but is facing challenges in labor, marketing and foreign competition.

On Tuesday morning (07/31/2018), Patrick Audrey, 18, could not take his eyes off the craftsmen as they carved a 6-centimeter block of wood in Senenan, Jepara regency, Central Java. Patrick was so intent that he forgot about the ear of corn in his hand that he had already finished eating.

The noise of the machines and generator in the room did not distract Patrick at all. The young man from Rana Mese, East Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, had come to Jepara to learn wood carving.

Patrick has long been interested in wood carving. He also likes to draw. Now, he wants to develop his skills in the craft. "I was advised to study wood carving in Jepara. Later, I want to open a relief carving business in my village," he said.

Patrick was not discouraged, and tried to find a place that would accept him as an apprentice. Finally, Patrick was accepted by one of the 3D carving master craftsmen in Jepara, Sutrisno, the owner of Jepara Carver.

Patrick\'s story is an ironic one in Jepara, which is known as the world’s wood carving center. While a young man like him is willing to journey all the way from Flores to study the craft, the Jepara youth are not interested in becoming wood-carvers.

According to Ali Utomo, 29, a Senenan wood-carver, today’s local youths were more interested in working in furniture warehouses or even in industries outside woodcraft, such as the garment industry, because they can earn a higher income and gain better prestige than wood-carvers.

Ali believes that the wood carving culture in Senenan village, one of Jepara’s centers of relief carving, must be maintained. It is the reason that motivates him to continue as a wood-carver. "In addition, wood carving is a more flexible job. When I\'m tired, I can stop for a moment," said Ali.

The wages vary between the relief carving wokshops in Senenan, ranging from Rp 50,000 (US$3.50) to Rp 100,000 per day. It depends on the craftsman’s experience, the difficulty of the piece and the amount of work it requires. In addition to daily wages, craftsmen also receive pay according to the volume of the raw material, from Rp 35,000 to Rp 60,000 per 10 sq cm.

About 100 meters from the workshop where Ali works, Hendriyono (Yono), 61, is busy carving a 1-meter-diameter round table made of teak. The table was covered with wood chips. Armed with 30 carving tools and a wooden hammer, he patiently worked on a flower motif.

Yono, who has been a wood-carver since 1973, only works on custom orders. He can complete one order in three months. Sometimes, he receives daily wages. At other times, he works under a contact. In his boss\'s showroom, the finished pieces are sold for Rp 13 million to Rp 65 million each.

To make a good carving required patience and perseverance, said Yono. Today’s youths in his village no longer possessed such qualities. "Today, young people rarely want to become a carver. So, the carving orders are fulfilled according to the availability of existing personnel," he said.

Yono said that only a few years ago, his wood carving workshop produced up to six pieces a year. Now, it produces an average of three pieces from a lack of craftsmen, not from a lack of order. The orders keep coming, especially from the United States, China and Malaysia.

Turning away orders

Sutrisno, the master craftsman and owner of Jepara Carver, which produces and sells relief carvings and furniture in Senenan village, admitted that he was often forced to turn down orders because of the limited workforce. Prospective buyers have challenged him to produce as many carvings as possible. "But we can only work to our capacity. Before, I had 10 workers, but now there are only five," he said.

Sutrisno admitted the wood carving industry was still promising and many craftsmen were available Jepara. However, producing detailed relief carvings required patience, perseverance and accuracy. The craftsmen who could complete such pieces were increasingly becoming rare. In fact, 10-20 years ago, at least 50 percent of the youths in Senenan were interested in relief carving, but today, only around 5 percent were.

"This is also due to the development of information technology. The times are changing, but we hope they will realize that this wood carving culture is an extraordinary and noble craft," Sutrisno said.

Sutrisno realized that if regeneration were neglected, the relief carving craft of Senenan, even Jepara, would die out. He always opens his doors to anyone who wants to learn wood carving from him.

Those who come on their own – and not through institutions – can learn for free. As an industry that promotes local wisdom, the center of relief carving has great potential for growth. In fact, customer demand has showed no signs of abating for many craftsmen. So, if interest in and will for the difficult craft decline, it is not impossible that the glory of the world’s center of relief carving will fade.  (RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA)