INDONESIA: 80 YEAR OLD BALINESE MASK MAKER STRUGGLES TO KEEP THE TRADITION OF HIS CRAFTSMANSHIP ALIVE

Record ID: 839562

  • Title: INDONESIA: 80 YEAR OLD BALINESE MASK MAKER STRUGGLES TO KEEP THE TRADITION OF HIS CRAFTSMANSHIP ALIVE
  • Date: 6th November 2003
  • Summary: (L!1) BALI, INDONESIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) LV FULL MOON
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BALI, INDONESIA
  • City:
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Business,Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA2HZDC1GJE3Z64VVJ9RMV9HXV2
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  • Story Text: An 80 year old Balinese mask maker is struggling to keep the tradition of his craftsmanship alive.
    As a moonlit night falls on Bali, local people come together to perform a variety of rituals and ceremonies as offerings to their deities. One of the most famous ceremonies in Bali is the traditional mask or 'Topeng' dance drama, which takes place at least once a month during a full moon.
    These magical, totemic masks have come to represent Bali to many visitors, who are spellbound by their exotic, gargoyle-like demeanour and their entertaining presence in evening dance spectacles and in almost every art shop window all around the island.
    The Balinese are famous for carving elaborately detailed wooden masks in a wide variety of forms, reflecting the Hindu belief that everything has an active spirit.
    A mask communicates some of the life of the ceremonial world that it represents. Although their features are fixed, the masks come to life during a performance as they become as animated as the faces of human actors.
    However, these days there are only a handful of carvers left making the traditional Balinese "Topeng" and struggling to keep the art alive.
    80 year-old Wayang Tangguh operates from his workshop in a traditional 200-year old Balinese home - surrounded by masks in various stages of completion.
    Wayan's masks are based mostly on characteristics derived from human nature and the different phases of life people go through.
    He makes masks of legendary kings and those that represent good and evil. His stained fingers and teeth, lanky physique and deep, yet soft eyes give him the aura of a seasoned artist.
    Tangguh does not refer to any pictures or sketches when carving his masks. Wayan looks back and thinks hard as he settles the block of wood between his feet- once the wood is carefully fastened on his soles, he begins the fascinating process of transforming a plain block of wood into a lifelike face with striking features and detailed expressions.
    "When you start making the features of t he mask, you have to first decide what type of person you want to portray- and you have to slowly make one feature at a time.
    Whether you want a person with a small or long face, you have to pay attention to detail. After you decide on the shape of the face, you have to decide on the type of eyes, chin, forehead all that takes a lot of time," said Tangguh.
    The hand crafted masks are not available in regular shops in Bali. They take weeks to make as every minute detail from the texture of the wood to the finishing texture need to be perfect and most importantly realistic.
    The mask is treated like a holy powerful object and they believe it has the power to heal and teach when used in dance performances.
    "But when you are making the mask, your thoughts merge with the mask. Your feelings should be in tune with what you are doing and the maker and the mask become one. You should not think of anything else. This is if you want to make hand crafted masks. But if you go to commercial shops and look at the masks, they are very different they are mass produced," said Tangguh.
    The masks are painted in an array of local natural colours to highlight their features. The white paint powder is made of mashed pig bones and from other natural dyes.
    After the sanding and carving is finished, an undercoat of white gesso is applied followed by the coloured paints applied on top. Wayan claims it is essential to use natural dyes, especially on the eyes and the teeth to give the mask a realistic look. They are finally buttered with a coat of lacquer to give them the final dazzle.
    Horsehair is sometimes added as mustaches and beards to add character to the mask.
    Legend has it that the more natural all the elements on the mask are, the easier it is for the spirit to enter.
    The Gianyar area in Bali is well-known for mask makers, but it is dying trade as there are only a handful of master carvers such as Wayan Tangguh left. Wayan has been teaching the craft for over fifty years when he started in the 1950s. Unfortunately, to date only fifty students have graduated under his guidance.
    Wayan Tangguh's current student, Neuman Sudiyanu has been with him for two months. He hopes to continue making masks after he finishes his apprenticeship.
    "After I finish studying with father, I might start working outside or operate from this household- I always made masks with leather and now I have learnt to make it with this wood. After this, I will be able to make masks with wood or leather and so will be able to do a lot," said Sudiyanu.
    Apart from being used in ceremonies, Wayan Tangguh's masks are mainly exported to the West to be displayed in museums and art galleries. The prices range from US$85 to US$850.
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