Sovereign Art for the Motherland

Regina Rukmorini/Gregorius M Finesso

· 6 minutes read

Artists and farmers in the valleys among five mountains in Central Java define art as a space for expression that is liberating. Instead of chasing renown and reputation, they prefer to be independent in their dedication to promoting the arts within the local wisdom.

Twelve dancers in red-and-white costumes and makeup were getting ready on Sunday (11/8/2019) in Banyusidi village of Pakis district, Magelang regency, Central Java. Six were performing the Geculan Bocah dance while the other six were performing the Soreng dance, two traditional folk dances native to the valleys of mounts Merbabu and Merapi.

The Geculan Bocah dancers moved and swirled, each holding two small rose apples in their bulging cheeks.

“We are enthusiastic in preparing for Indonesia’s 74th anniversary celebrations. The dance rehearsal was announced on Friday evening (9/8) but we will be ready by Sunday,” said Riyadi, an artist from Pakis district’s Community of Five Mountains (KLG). All the dancers were wearing makeup of a similar color scheme to the nature-themed decorative arch (gapura) adorned with bundles of hay and leaves.

The Banyusidi village dancer is a member of the KLG, a network of farmer-artists that hail from the valleys and hills in and around Magelang. The “five mountains” refer to Mount Merapi, Mt. Merbabu, Mt. Andong, Mt. Sumbing and Menoreh Hill.

Since 2002, they have held a variety of arts activities while they work as vegetable farmers, including the Five Mountains Festival, now in its 17th edition. Unlike typical art events, the festival seeks neither popularity nor an audience, nor does it depend on donations or fulfill the missions of certain groups.

The farmers aim to preserve the local wisdom through modest artistic performances. This vision means that their artistic expression is free of any strict requirements. The Soreng dance from Mt. Merbabu, for instance, does not always involve 12 dancers. It is flexible in response to the limited space and dancers, and it was once performed by just three dancers.

Puppetmaster Sih Agung Prasetyo, another KLG member, said that he did not always perform with a full gamelan orchestra and set of puppets. He once performed a wayang show using nothing but leaves and his own vocals.

This is possible, as the artists do not view themselves as being more important than their art. For them, art is about preserving life. Therefore, they are able to adjust to any constraints, including finances and facilities. KLG artists are used to performing with whatever they have. This does not mean that their performances are mediocre; instead, the limitations give birth to new ideas and raise their creativity to new heights.

Creativity

Ismanto, an installation artist and sculptor from Sengi village in Magelang, said that he usually made stage props from natural materials like hay, dried leaves, fronds and coconut fibers because of limited funding for the Five Mountains Festival (FLG). “Many people say that I have extraordinarily creative ideas, when in fact, it is more because I don’t have money [to do more],” he said, laughing.

Ismanto’s installations have gained widespread praise. The use of natural materials then went viral and was adopted by artists in Wonosobo, Klaten and Cilacap.

Other artists use the affordable materials in designing their costumes. They also use repurposed materials like used plastic packaging in their dance costumes.

Modesty is in the blood of these local artists who have been shaped by the mountains around them. They have mastered since childhood a variety of traditional art forms like jatilan or kuda lumping, which became the artistic roots of the KLG.

In defining art as an expression of gratitude to the Creator, the KLG artists have never set a target for audience numbers. They have held performances at midnight and the pre-dawn hours at Mendut Studio of Mungkid district. In 2010, the opening ceremony for the 10th FLG was held at 4 a.m. atop Suroloyo Peak in Menoreh, around 1,019 meters above sea level.

Both artists and the audience applaud all performances with great enthusiasm. No sense of competition exists between the artists. They do not wish to bring anyone else down, as they believe that negativity will only hinder the freedom of artistic expression. They appreciate the process more than the results.

No donations

In managing its performances, the KLG, which was founded in 2002 by cultural observer Sutanto Mendut, takes the time to explore its spirit of freedom. The FLG depended on donations in 2002-2004. It has abandoned such dependence, as it disrupted their creative expression. “Because of the donations, all we thought about was money. We thought about how to distribute the money fairly among the performing artists. We could not think and train optimally,” said KLG chair Supadi Haryanto.

From this experience, the KLG artists decided to remain independent. The festival and other artistic events they hold in the villages are wholly the collective efforts of the local artists, most of whom are farmers.

Their strong sense of togetherness in holding these activities is the farmers’ bond. Not even the 2011 Mt. Merapi eruption could halt the 10th FLG in Keron hamlet of Krogowanan village in Sawangan district, which was affected by the disaster.

Local farms and other economic activities had not fully recovered when the festival was held, with the crops still covered in volcanic ash. However, each family still contributed Rp 25,000 (US$1.75) and cooked various snacks for artists and visitors.

In February, Sutanto established the Five Mountains Museum behind his house in Mungkid district, to preserve the life values of the artists and farmers in the valleys of the five mountains. The museum exhibits a variety of different pieces the farmers have created, including sculptures, masks, paintings, dance costumes, musical instruments, books and photographs, as well as news clippings.

“The museum collects not only physical items, but also the farmers’ ideas and life values,” he said.

The museum also displays a quote from Mbah Dargo, a late senior artist of Merbabu: “Seni yek apik ora iso ditiru, elek ora iso dicacat.” (Good art is unmistakable; bad art is undeniable.)

In the end, art is a celebration of independence for the farmers of the KLG.

Editor:

kompascetak klg community of five mountains