Enjoying Indonesian Diverse Culture in Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets

Gianyar - Cultural Visit as part of the series of activities of World Culture Forum (WCF) has successfully attract the attention of participants. Moreover, in the Cultural visit, the participants were presented with a variety of art performances from various regions in Indonesia, especially during a visit to Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppet in Gianyar.

The visit was opened with Tor-Tor Marmeam-meam dance, traditional dances from North Sumatra, performed by children finalist of National Children Dance Festival. The dance is dedicated to welcome the participants in the main Hall of Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets. After watching the Tor-Tor dance, the participants walked to six pavilions in Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets which exhibit a variety of masks, both domestic and abroad.

In Blora pavillion, for example, visitors were presented with a variety of masks from Africa, Mexico, and Japan. While in Bojonegoro pavilion, various Indonesian wayang golek (wooden puppets), hanging puppets from India, and stick puppets from Italy were exhibited. After touring The House, the participants watched Tari Topeng (Mask Dance Performance) and Barong dance accompanied by music from Balinese artists, Balawan.

Education and Culture Ministry’s Director General of Culture Hilmar Farid said, a variety of art performances displayed in the Cultural Visits in the first day of World Culture Forum 2016 aims to show the color of Indonesian culture to the world.

“All this time, we see the artistic expression only as culture decoration. While actually, there are also statements about life and about people. We should hear more voices in the community. Indonesia is a country that values diversity as strength. This country consists of hundreds of ethnicity, language, island, but we can maintain our integrity. That’s what we have to offer the world, the ability to manage the vast culture, of course, with all the existing problems,” said Hilmar in Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets, Gianyar, Bali, (10 / 10/2016).

He expected that the participants of the World Culture Forum and its supporting forums, the International Youth Forum (IYF) and the International Folk Dance Festival (IFDF), can enjoy the culture of Indonesia during the convention of World Culture Forum in Bali.

Belkhatir Mohamed, IYF participants from Belgium, said this is his first visit to Indonesia. Previously, he had heard that Indonesia was a wonderful country. “I have only stayed here for two days and these two days have been the best day for me,” he said. He hoped that by participating in IYF, he can discover new cultures and ideas to develop culture and tourism in his country.

Like Mohamed, Victoria, participants of International Folk Dance Festival from Poland also come to Indonesia for her first time. After watching a variety of art performances, She was deeply in love with Indonesian culture. Victoria, who is a dancer, is also preparing for IYF collaboration dance with other participants from other countries. They will perform a collaboration of traditional dances from countries in World Culture Forum 2016 Gala Dinner, on 13 October 2016. (WCF2016)

Photo: Hotels.com