Babaran Segaragunung Opening
November 19, 2005, 7 p.m.

SUDAMALA is a sacred folktale about exorcism. Ra Nini, the central figure in the group on the left that is comprised of the demons, Kalantaka and Kalanjana, and their fellow spirits, is released from a curse after she is exorcised by Sahadewa, the central figure of the group on the right, comprised by the Pandawa warriors.

Dewi Uma is the wife of the god, Dewa Siwa, the aspect of Divine Radiance.  The marriage of Dewi Uma and Dewa Siwa gave birth to the universe. Dewi Uma suffered a misfortune because of her sins; she was cursed by Dewa Siwa to reincarnate in the world as Ra Nini, a demoness, as a symbol of negative strength.  Her presence throws the universe off balance and becomes the source of human suffering and natural disasters.

Nakula and Sahadewa are twins and the youngest of the five Pandawa brothers.  The Sudamala story illuminates how the knowledge manunggaling kawula-gusti [the unity of humanity and the divine] will transform uwong into manungsa. In the cultural tradition of Gunung Lawu, humanity is differentiated between uwong and manungsa.  Uwong are humans who live by their animal desires, while manungsa are humans who live by considering their intellectual, emotional and spiritual-religious selves.

The five Pandawa warriors in the Sudamala story are presented in the configuration of two + three. The twins, Nakula and Sahadewa, symbolize the concept of manunggaling kawula-gusti, while their three brothers, Arjuna, Bima and Dharma Kusuma represent complimentary concepts. Arjuna embodies the philosophy of human life in the macro-cosmos; Bima, the dimension of the micro-cosmos; while Dharma Kusuma, the white-blooded warrior, the exemplary human who understands the wisdom of sangkan-paran ing dumadi, origins, and moksartham, release from the cycle of rebirth and death, is the symbol of vertical totality.

PROGRAM
Welcoming Speech : Agus Ismoyo
Welcoming Speech : Agung Harjuno
Essay Reading : Sandra Neissan, the Netherlands
Poetry Reading : Christine Cocca, Desmon Sekarbatu A.

PERFORMANCE ART :
‘Reflections on the Sudamala Story'
(Based on the Old Javanese text Sudamala)
Music : Kelik, Naryo, Woody et.al.
Poetry : Apriastuti “Simboke”
Dance : Jeannie Park
Pantomime : Jemek Supardi

Opening : Seno Gumira Ajidarma
Exhibition : Out of Indonesia—Collaborations of Brahma Tirta Sari (Agus Ismoyo & Nia Fliam)
Music : Gamelan Bayu Mataram Segaragunung + Sharon Eng—Jam Jazz
1 November 2005, 2 p.m.

DISCUSSION & LECTURE:
Place : Babaran Segaragunung, Banguntapan, Jogjakarta
Discussion Theme: COLLABORATIONS—The Role of
Traditional Culture in the Development of
Contemporary Art
(Time: 2 p.m.)
Speakers : - Agus Ismoyo Artist & Founder BSG
- Asmudjo Irianto Artist & Curator
- Maria Yovita Meta (Tafean Pah Timor
Foundation, Recipient of the Prince
Claus Award from the Netherlands for
the revitalization of Biboki Timorese
weaving)
- Joanna Barrkman (Asian Art Curator
(Museum & Galleries of the Northern
Territory, Darwin Australia)
- St. Sunardi Director, Institute for
Culture & Religion, 
Sanata Dharma
University, Jogjakarta
(time: 6 p.m.)

LECTURE : “Symbols of Power & Life”: The Relationship of the Indian Textile Trade
and Traditions of the Aloin Melo Community of West Timor
by: Joanna Barrkman

This lecture presents the results of research conducted by Joanna Barrkman on the processes of how Aloin Melo weavers in West Timor received Patola motifs from India. Meticulous tracing of motifs used by Aloin Melo weavers indicate the high level of integrity these weavers have for their own culture.