A Banker Dedicating His Life to the Arts

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

Sigit Pramono

As a professional, Sigit Pramono, 61, has long been fully engaged in the banking sector. Nevertheless, he isn’t just preoccupied with currency exchange rates, economic growth curves or the trade balance. He also has a deep passion for photography, the arts, culture and nature.

Hundreds of people were absorbed in the warmth of the show held at Gandrung Terakota Amphitheater that evening. One of the spectators wearing a sweater and a cap was singing along and occasionally shaking his body to the rhythm of the beats.

His appearance and attitude weren’t far different from the other members of the audience. In fact, he is the owner of the arena and initiator of Mount Ijen Jazz.

Gandrung Terakota Park was built by Sigit after being inspired by the Terracotta Warriors and Horses in China, which were constructed during the period of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BCE). As the name indicates, Gandrung Terakota Park is filled with statues of performers of gandrung (dance of passion) made from terracotta or earthenware.

“We want to become an antithesis. Gandrung Terakota Park is present as a monument that’s more intimate with Earth. The statues are fragile earthenware sculptures. Earthenware is made from clay as we wish to portray the cycle of life that comes from Earth and returns to the Earth,” said the man, born in Batang, Pekalongan, on Nov. 14, 1958.

Gandrung Terakota Park, continued Sigit, was purposely built on farmland. The reason is that farmland is close to clay and gandrung. Gandrung, according to Sigit, is one of the arts dedicated to the glorification of Dewi Sri as the Goddess of Fertility.

Gandrung Terakota Park shares the same complex with the Jiwa Jawa Resort and Java Banana Café. An art gallery is also part of the compound with figurines, paintings and various installations.

Most of the artworks depict the vintage beauty and figures of gandrung dancers. Some of the photos put on view display the landscape of Mount Bromo with orange luminescence and youthful gandrung dancers who look modest yet graceful.

Cultural power

The seasoned banker, who handles a number of renowned banks in the country, turns out to have a deep flair for the arts. Sigit is aware that this is thanks to his milieu, experience, fellow travelers and wide range of reading in his daily life.

“But certainly, I have a solid reason why I’ve been doing it. I’m very convinced that people in this country possess strong genes of arts and culture. If we want to compete with other nations, we have to know our power. Arts and culture actually constitute the power of this nation,” he pointed out.

Realizing this strength, the father of four is fervently involved in the world of arts and culture. Sigit is desirous of doing something for the art and cultural diversity that has become the power of Indonesia.

“We all know the diversity of Indonesia. However, just knowing is not enough. We must do something. This is my way of showing the strength of Indonesia,” he said.

Sigit said what he had been doing wasn’t only for the sake of his own pleasure. He used the analogy of growing teak instead of sengon trees.

It means that what he is undertaking today may not be enjoyed by him. The benefits of everything he is doing will be felt by succeeding generations.

“I’m planting teak. I may not be harvesting it, but rather, my children and grandchildren will,” he added.

The love of arts and culture of the former president director of BII and also of BNI began with his love of nature. The landscape of Mount Bromo is his most impressive love story.

His love of photography led Sigit to take pictures of Mount Bromo. Finally, he launched various photographic books about Mount Bromo, such as View Point and Equilibrium Bromo. Through the books, Sigit wants to give information on the photo spots that can be alternatives for capturing the beauty of Bromo.

“Bromo is gorgeous from all angles, not only from gradients. Take note that one should not seek to see the sunrise on Bromo because what we see isn’t the sun. Visitors actually enjoy the first light that touches Bromo and the range of mountains there,” explained Sigit.

His routine visits to Mount Bromo prompted him to set up a photo gallery there. In 2003, his dream was realized and a gallery with a café offering coffee and fried bananas was opened, which he named Java Banana.

In phases, he also built an inn. Originally, it had three rooms, which has now increased to 82 rooms and called Jiwa Jawa. This was the embryo of Mount Ijen Jazz.

When Mount Ijen Jazz was underway, Banyuwangi Regent Abdullah Azwar Anas watched the show. His meeting with Anas continued until finally Sigit opened Jiwa Jawa and Java Banana on the slope of Mount Ijen.

Apart from physical structures, the husband of Sri Rahayu Kusindini also infused the same spirit as that already raised on Bromo. Mount Ijen Jazz and Meras Gandrung dance readily followed.

Now, the two locations, Jiwa Jawa Bromo and Jiwa Jawa Ijen, are meeting points of natural beauty, cultural grandeur and art civility. The three values have been born out of the ideas of the banker, Sigit.

Like his determination, Sigit is growing teak, which he hopes will be beneficial for his children and grandchildren. It may also be useful for the Indonesian nation.

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

Sigit Pramono (61)

Sigit Pramono

Born: Batang, Nov. 14, 1958

Wife: Sri Rahayu Kusindini

Education:

- State Senior High School 1 of Yogyakarta

- First degree of Diponegoro University

- Master’s degree of Prasetiya Mulya University

Experience:

- Founder of Jazz Gunung Indonesia

- Owner of Jiwa Jawa Resort, Bromo and Banyuwangi

- Chairman of Indonesia Institute Corporate for Directorship

Photographic books:

- View Point

- Majestic Mystical Mountain

- Belanga

- Equilibrium Bromo