Dhian Lestari Hastuti: Ndalem Interior and Self-Identity

Dhian Lestari Hastuti, S.Sn., M.Sn, is a lecturer of design interior at Indonesis Arts Institute, Surakarta, Indonesia, and Executive Director of Djawa Trails, an heritage organization based in Solo. Besides her research activities, she likes to participate in heritage activities as well in Solo city.

Agung PW:

Your postgraduate’s  thesis entitled  'Ndalem Interior at Batik Laweyan Houses’ Merchant in Early 20th-Century, An Aesthetics Studies', is quite interesting. What is your background to choose the case?

Dhian Lestari Hastuti:

The background to the study of aesthetics of ndalem interior in houses of Laweyan campong’s merchants, because dalem for Laweyan people  in the early 20-th century was one of several of self-identification as a marginalized cultural communities. The beauty of value housing philosophy, particularly ndalem for Laweyan batik merchants were life meaning they believed.

Eko Edi Susanto: Dreaming of Ludruk Karya Budaya Museum

Eko Edi Susanto (Nickname: Cak Edy Karya)

Ludruk is a kind of Indonesian traditional theatre existing in East Java Province. From year to year animo of people has decreased to see ludruk. Hoewever, there is still a man managing it seriously. He is Eko Edi Susanto.  His nickname is Cak Edy Karya. He has managed Ludruk Karya Budaya, Mojokerto, since June 1993. He is the man having commitment to preserve ludruk and dreaming of Museum of Ludruk Karya Budaya.  I is my interview with him.

Agung PW: When was Ludruk Karya Budaya established?

Eko Edi Susanto: Ludruk Karya Budaya was established on May 29, 1969 by Cak Bantoe Karya, a policeman of  Police Office of Jetis Sector. It was suggested by some figures of Canggu Village, District of  Jetis, Mojokerto Regency, East Java. There were always ludruk group from generation to generation existing at Canggu. The last group was Kartika Sakti, dissolved by New Order Regime in 1965 that was accused as Lekra (Lekra stands for Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat, a People Cultural Institution under the auspices of Indonesian Communist Party in 1950)

Eko Ujang: Malang Mask Dance Needs to Be Preserved

Eko Ujang

Eko Ujang is a Malang mask dancer from Malang, East Java, Indonesia. He has started to learn dance since six-year old. He is so experienced to dance Malang mask, a mask dance teacher, and  a dancer-choreographer. It is my interview with him.

Agung PW: Since what age did you learn Malang mask dance?

Eko Ujang: I started to learn to dance the age of 6 years, but if Istarted to learn dance masks seriously since the age of 16 years when in first class of senior high school. I was too late to learn to dance mask. because I was not initially attracted to dance mask as  mask dance  group   in my village   for adults only, no group of children. Initialy I learnt  mask dance at Sanggar Asmorobangun located at the village of Pakisaji, Malang Regency, in which the maestro of Mbah Karimun taught there. 

Margaret Chan: Indonesia, a Treasure Chest for Research

Margaret Chan

Margaret Chan, PhD.  is a pioneer of English Language Theatre in Singapore and was a journalist. She is Practice Asst Professor of Theatre/Performance Studies in the School of Social Sciences, and also teaches Creative Thinking for the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at SMU where Creative Thinking is a core module in the SMU curriculum. At SMU, Margaret also teaches Ethnography, Cultural Identities and the Art and Theatre.

Her  research interest is in the field of Chinese spirit medium worship and Chinese Popular Religion. Her book, Ritual is Theatre, Theatre is Ritual: Chinese Spirit Medium Worship published by the Wee Kim Wee Centre, SMU and SNP Research represents a seminal investigation into the practice of tang-ki spirit medium worship, a signifying cultural practice of the Hokkien people. Although the worship is widespread in the major communities of the Chinese diaspora in Taiwan and South East Asia, the subject has received scant scholarly attention, so that Margaret’s research has contributed to world knowledge in this field. Her investigation covers Singapore, Fujian in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and in particular, over the past two years, she has researched in Indonesia. It is my interview with her.