I Nyoman Alim Mustapha, Sharing the World of Carving

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Nyoman Alim Mustapha

For Magelang sculptor I Nyoman Alim Mustapha, 66, success in his work does not mean mere personal satisfaction, but also a way of sharing. He has introduced sculpture to the public as a way of expressing gratitude to nature and the Creator.

Nyoman shared the sculpting process at the 2-hectare Nakula Sadewa Edupark, situated on the main road connecting Magelang-Yogyakarta in Pabelan of Mungkid subdistrict, Magelang, Central Java,.

“Everyone is born naked. From where do we gain knowledge? We gain it from nature, our parents and teachers, so that we grow smart. If we are smart, we must pass on the knowledge to others,” Nyoman, a Balinese sculptor who has lived in Magelang since 1968, said on Wednesday (17/10/2018).

Nyoman said it was not easy to explore art because art schools and colleges were rare. Often, when he wanted to learn about a particular art, those in charge denied him an explanation, claiming it was “a secret”. Armed with his strong determination and the artistic blood he inherited from his father, the late painter I Ketut Kicen, Nyoman taught himself.

“That’s when I said, ‘Oh God, if You bless me with intelligence, I will share it with everyone across the earth.’ That’s why I am able to travel the world. So, if you make a promise and keep it with sincerity, it can become a reality,” said the father of five.

Nyoman’s hands have produced thousands of artworks, including statues, reliefs and miniatures of historical buildings, along with the craftsmen he employs. Nakula Sadewa Edupark has at least 300 workers, 50 of who are permanent employees. The craftsmen have various skills ranging from stone carving, pottery to metalworking, and come from Magelang and surrounding areas, as well as other places in Central Java.

“At this educational park, our children and [the peers of] their generation can watch how to make not just sculptures, but also calligraphy and various works of art made from fiberglass, marble, bronze, stone and aluminum. How to make, mold and cast bronze,” he explained.

Educational Park

The education park has several sections. The first section is called the “national park”, and contains statues of the national heroes and founders of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. It has the statues of Ir. Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta, Commander-in-Chief General Sudirman, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Ahmad Yani and even Prince Diponegoro and Gadjah Mada.

“From its outset [the park] presented national figures so that the younger generation will know why Indonesia exists,” he said.

Next to the national park is the “international park”, which has several miniatures of magnificent buildings from across the world, from Borobudur Temple to the Statue of Liberty, and from the Shwedagon Pagoda to Angkor Wat. Next to the international park are dozens of colorful puppets in the “cultural park”.

Other sections hold the workshops or studios of Nyoman’s craftsmen and employees. There is an area for making clay and concrete sculptures; there is another area for carving stone statues and stone reliefs, and another for making aluminum statues. “To melt the materials, the aluminum is heated to 800 degrees Celsius, while bronze must be heated to 1,600 degrees Celsius,” said Nyoman.

A number of artisans were finishing of a 3-meter-tall African elephant and a 6-meter-tall Bima Suci puppet that was commissioned from Purworejo, Central Java. The whirr of grinders, clinking hammers and the noise of other tools the artisans used blended with the music from a radio. Some of the works on display in the park are the actual molds used to cast bronze and aluminum sculptures.

“The children can see the materials and the tools use to produce sculptures,” said Nyoman.

Walking farther into the park stands a gazebo for resting, as well as a dedicated area for children’s activities and a place for visitors to learn about sculpting. The lush trees in the area keep it shady and cool. There are also several ponds and fountain statuary with statues of fish, a crocodile and jug-bearing woman.

Since its opening in July, 4,253 visitors have come to Nakula Sadewa Park, of which 75 percent were students.

Beneficial

Quoting a Javanese saying, Nyoman said that life was just a brief stop at a waterhole before continuing the journey. “Life is short. The knowledge that we have comes from the Almighty. It is good if we can share it with others. Our knowledge will benefit many people,” he said.

Nyoman said he wanted to help many people. He not only teaching his employees, but also invites them to other countries while installing the sculptures, giving them an opportunity to see and learn about other cultures abroad.

Nyoman’s commissioned sculptures have been installed in Belgium, Vietnam, the Vatican, Germany, Austria and at hotels and city squares throughout the archipelago.

He said that nature and human beings are one and interconnected. “When human beings can use nature as a useful material for life, nature and human beings will be interconnected,” he said.

Nyoman said that people should try to realize their good intentions no matter what. “However difficult it is, it must be done. If we cannot overcome or take risks, we have lost before the battle has begun. Human beings must have the courage to fight, and to fight all for [the benefit of the many],” he said.

For Nyoman, the hard and solid stone posed a challenge for him to keep moving forward and innovating. He uses andesite as well as marble, jade, bronze and aluminum in his sculptures. “The harder the stone, the mre happier I am. No matter how hard the stone is, if our minds and wills are stronger and harder, we will be certain of taming it,” he said.

Nature has taught Nyoman hwo to become an artist through determination and strong will. Sculpting is the philosophy of never giving up and always giving back to nature.

I Nyoman Alim Mustapha

Born: Denpasar, Feb. 13, 1952

Wife: Rodhiyatie (dec.); Sri Widati

Children: Dewi, Shanti, Desy, Komang Darmawan, Komang Kurniawan

Education: SMA Pendowo senior high school, Muntilan (class of 1971)

Occupation: Sculptor