Bandung Review : Cirebon Mask Painting Workshop of Pasar Seni ITB 2010 (BETA VERSION)

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Cirebon Mask Painting Workshop of Pasar Seni ITB 2010

Curiosity grabbed our thoughts when Pasar Seni ITB 2010 invited us to come to one of their pre-events, yesterday (9/28). This one is called Cirebon Mask Painting Workshop. Arrived on the West Campus Center of ITB, room 26, we met with the 30 participants and most of them are high school students. They sat above old newspapers, painting the mask. Learning by doing is how we could describe the participants' activities during the workshop. As the time went so fast, beautiful masks were appeared in front of us, so amazing! Even the participants themselves are seemed so zeroed in on them. “Wow, I am surely can made this kind of masterpieces”, such words flew through their minds.

When the workshop was taking a short break, Bandung Review decided to stroll around a little bit. Not so far from us, there was a man with batik clothes, holding his brush and an undone white mask. Apparently his name is Mr. Ade Supriyadi, the owner of Sanggar Kreasi Cipta Kota Cirebon, and also a Cirebon mask’s painter. He became the keynote speaker for the workshop. “There are 5 major masks as symbols of human basic characters,” he said. From his explanations, we learned that there are five kinds of mask, each represented certain character. They are Panji mask – the newborn baby, Samba – the kid, Rumyang – the teen, Tumenggung – wise people, and Kelana – the insolence king. The ornaments and their color suit their own characteristic; with white to red gradation dominated the mask’s surface. Mr. Ade also revealed the story behind Cirebon’s mask dance, which is a show created as a media to introduce and teach Moslem to locals, during the era of Islamic development in Indonesia. It is a piece made by the famous Wali Songo (nine Moslem missionaries), particularly Sunan Gunung Jati and Sunan Kalijaga. Hence, the basic concept of the dance is all about Moslem religion.

Finished with the Mr. Ade’s session, we continued our journey, exploring around the venue. There were a small table at the corner front of the room, and we saw an extraordinary mask which is created from the jaran wood, along with the equipments. Surely noted that this workshop was really entertaining and educating at the same time; allowing us to learn lots of new things and experience. This event’s committee said that real concept of Pasar Seni ITB 2010 is to remind something that gave been forgotten by the society, such as this fabulous Cirebon mask art. Well, the participants really got their best deal from it. With only Rp. 70.000 for workshop, they earned a lifetime experience of art with just a one-day learning. Beside the mask-painting workshop, they also got an interesting bonus, a ngibing workshop for free to learn how to perform the mask dance moves. Therefore, they will show their skills during the Pasar Seni ITB 2010 parade (another pre-event), at the 1st of October 2010.

Once again, Bandung Review met the solid proof of Sundanese and Indonesian pride and heritage. Something that should make us always held our head up high. A priceless legacy which is must be kept and preserve from time to time. (CS)

Indonesian Version