Art Studios Dealing with Pandemic

Kompas

Betawi dance coach Caswana, giving free courses to young women by maintaining the Covid-19 protocol at Sanggar Warga in Kelurahan Dukuh, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Sunday (21/6/2020). This studio has been providing free courses to its students for decades and has performed in a number of countries, such as Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Germany and Korea.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS -- Betawi art workers try to preserve various traditional arts as the icon of Jakarta. For this purpose, they struggle to deal with the test of time, including the COVID-19 epidemic. Their expression in art is filled with openness, which is a characteristic of the capital city\'s culture.

Kompas coverage at the end of last week showed that efforts to preserve Betawi (Jakarta native) traditional art were seen in many art studios scattered in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok and Bekasi (West Java) as well as Tangerang (Banten). The art forms are varied, ranging from lenong (theater), palang pintu (martial art), tanjidor and gambang kromong (music) to dances.

Also read : Longing for Revival of Betawi Cultural Bastion

Muslih, 71, a master at Selempang Betawi martial art studio in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, Banten, for example, has developed silat beksi (martial arts) school since 1966. Now there are 33 studios under its auspices and 60 of his students have become mentors who pass on knowledge to the new students. "Silat is not a martial art for fighting, but a unifying bridge," he said, last weekend.

Being a Tanjidor player cannot make a living because nowadays the invitation to perform on stage is rare

Burhan, 53, a patron at Sanggar Jali Putra in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, adopts popular culture for lenong. H inserts dangdut music into gambang kromong. This method makes the lenong preferred by young people.

There is also Fajar Hardian, 25, the leader of Sanggar Al Jabar Tanjidor studio in Nanggul, Sukasari village, Tangerang regency, Banten. Inheriting the studio from his late uncle Jaip, Fajar invited the local youths to preserve art. "However, being a Tanjidor player cannot make a living because nowadays the invitation to perform on stage is rare," he said.

Quiet during a pandemic

The COVID-19 epidemic has increasingly hit Betawi art studios. The large-scale social restrictions increasingly limit the opportunities for gigs. The crowds during stage performance are vulnerable to increasing the potential for new coronavirus transmission.

Also read : Proving the Resilience of Jakarta

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Syarifudin "Jaro" (62), leader of the Setia Jaya lenong group in South Tangerang, Saturday (20/6/2020).

Syarifudin "Jaro", 62, the leader of the Setia Jaya lenong group in South Tangerang, said that his group used to perform twice a month at various community events. However, in the last three months, there were no more invitations. So, the group’s members focused on their respective occupations, such as farming and gardening. Later, when the COVID-19 epidemic ends, they are determined to return to art.

The head of Research and Development of the Betawi Cultural Institute (LKB) Yahya Andi Saputra considers the epidemic as part of a life cycle. By strengthening collaboration, the art workers are believed to be able to survive this challenge as they once did. "Resilience in facing the life cycle has been tested. During this time, Betawi culture opened up to and received acculturation," he said.

296 studios

According to anthropologist Yasmine Z Shahab, Jakarta as the capital of the country, has grown into an economic center, a center of state administration and a major gateway to various cultures. Betawi artists\' groups adapt quite quickly, including to meet tourism demands.

Along with the development of Jakarta came various ethnic groups that are quite persistent in maintaining their culture. As Jakarta becomes more cosmopolitan, Betawi culture needs to be accommodated. Such step was realized, among others, through the development of cultural conservation areas, such as in Condet and Setu Babakan.

Head of the Jakarta Culture Agency, Iwan Henry Wardana, said 296 studios in Jakarta were active in music, dance, fine arts, theater and literature. They are the practitioners of Jakarta culture, which is mixed from rich traditions that have evolved through centuries.

For the sake of stage performance, the Jakarta administration operates three buildings, namely the Jakarta Arts House, Miss Tjitjih and Wayang Orang Bharata puppetry house. In addition, there is the Ismail Marzuki Fine Arts Center and five training venues that are managed by city cultural offices.

(SKA/DIV/MED/IGA/GIO/VAN/DNE).