Will be staged in Italy, Banyumasan art is expected to go global

A number of Banyumasan arts, such as calung, lengger, ebeg,unjungan, jemblung, and cowongan, are displayed in Italy.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

A number of artists are practicing performing the art of dalang jemblung at Oemah Gamelan Pekunden, Banyumas, Central Java, Sunday (5/5/2024).

PURWOKERTO, KOMPAS — A number of arts typical of Banyumasan, Central Java, will be performed in three cities in Italy on 20-28 May 2024. The performance is expected to be an event for cultural preservation as well as tourism promotion Banyumas in the international world.

The performance of several Banyumasan arts in Italy was entitled ”Calung-Lengger Banyumasan: The 1st Italian Tour”. This event is the result of collaboration between the Sekar Shanty Art Studio, Banjarnegara Regency, Central Java, and two researchers from Italy.

The two researchers are Daniele Zappatore, a researcher and film maker from La Sapienza University in Rome, and Professor Giovanni Giuriati, a professor of ethnomusicology and Chairman of the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice.

Collaboration regarding the development of the Banyumasan traditional arts of calung and lengger has been established since 2019 through documentation, research, and performance development efforts.

"This program could be a golden opportunity for the traditional performing arts of Bayumas to be known in the international world," said Yusmanto, the chairman of Sanggar Seni Sekar Shanty and also the head of the delegation of "Calung-Lengger of Banyumasan: The 1st Italian Tour," on Sunday (5/5/2024) afternoon in Banyumas.

Also read: Modernization of the Lengger House and Wayang Museum Enlivens the Old City of Banyumas

Chairman of the Sekar Shanty Art Studio, Yusmanto, when met in Banyumas, Central Java, Sunday (5/5/2024) afternoon.

Yusmanto explained that in the event "Calung-Lengger Banyumasan: The 1st Italian Tour," he and nine Banyumasan artists will perform in the cities of Venice, Rome, and Naples. Several Banyumasan arts that will be displayed include lengger, calung, jemblung, ujungan, cowongan, and ebeg or kuda lumping.

"As members of the community and artists, we have the same task of how to collectively promote various local arts of Banyumas to become a cultural force that represents Indonesia and the world," said Yusmanto.

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Apart from Yusmanto, the visit to Italy also included the male lengger dancer Rianto, Muriah Budiarti singer, as well as artists Cipto Subroto, Sukendar, Sarmin, Rumpoko Setyo Aji, Eko Kuntowibowo, and Gading Banyubiru. Darno Kartawi, a Karawitan lecturer at the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Surakarta, also participated.

"In this event, we want to highlight the local cultural identity of Banyumas. We pay special attention to the art of lengger-calung, which represents the way of life of the Banyumas community," said Darno, who comes from the Karangpucung area, Cilacap Regency, Central Java.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

ISI Surakarta lecturer, Darno Kartawi, plays calung at Oemah Gamelan Pekunden, Banyumas, Central Java, Sunday (5/5/2024).

According to Darno, the arts in Banyumas are located between two cultural loci, namely West Java and Yogyakarta-Surakarta. He gave an example, in the border area of Cilacap with West Java there is a dance art called ronggeng or renggong which in Banyumas is known as lengger.

In their performance in Italy, according to Darno, the artists will showcase their art using three different colors. The first one is the characteristic art of Banyumasan that represents the identity of the Banyumas people.

Also read: Ebeg Traditional Art Welcomes the Revitalization of the Old City of Banyumas

This program could be a golden opportunity for Bayumas' traditional performing arts to be known internationally.

Secondly, the artists will also showcase works that demonstrate the meeting of West Java and Banyumas cultures. Thirdly, art influenced by Yogyakarta-Surakarta culture will also be presented.

"We try to package it with innovative ideas. Then, those related to the culture of Surakarta and Yogyakarta are approached with slightly structured and systematic principles because Banyumas' strength lies in its spontaneity," said Darno.