Indonesia-Japan Mask Expo Being Held In Bandung

Jakarta, June 4 (Antara) - Indonesia-Japan Cultural Collaboration Exhibition featuring Mask Exhibition entitled Kesucian Sukma (Purity of Soul) and various other art and cultural attractions, is being held at Asia-Africa Conference(KAA) Museum in Bandung on June 4-9, 2013. As a result of collaboration between KAA Museum and Umnesato-Noh Mask Museum (Japan), the week-long Mask Exhibition displays mask collections of Noh-Mask Umnesato Museum, Abun Adira Art Gallery Bandung and Sri Baduga Museum, the Indonesian foreign ministry said in a press statement here on Tuesday. Some of these masks are two collections of pre-historic period, namely Hanuman Mask from Solo and an ancient mask from East Kalimantan. In addition, Leti masks from West Nusa Tenggara and masks from Bali, the works of an Indonesian masks maestro, Ni Nyoman Tanggah will enrich our repertoire of philosophical, cultural values of masks. "The exhibition is also enriched with collaboration of cultural activities which are loaded with information and education of cultural traditions, such as dance and music performances, workshops on Indonesian-Japanese masks and photography, films, and talk shows with mask experts", said Thomas Ardian Siregar in Bandung recently. There will be performances staging Japanese Mask Dance (by Mitsui Kawasaki) and Cirebon mask dance (by Ineu Arini) followed by the staging of the musical collaboration of Syakuhaci Japan (by Hiroyuki Murata) and Sundanese Kecapi (Lute) (by Kabuyutan Braga). Visitors will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of mask-making in Indonesia and Japan workshop (by Soei Ogura), and enjoy the beauty of the Japanese Mask Dance performance (by Mitsui and Kawasaki STSI Bandung) and the staging of Tari Dewi (Goddess Dance) (by Pohachi Group). On Saturday (June 8), from 09:00 to 10:30 pm, there will be a golden opportunity for photography enthusiasts to join a photography workshop (by Kiyomi Tagawa) and witnessed the staging of Taisho Goto (by students of the University of Education, Bandung) and the staging of Karinding Music (by Karmila Group). And on Sunday (June 9), the series of events will be concluded with a talk show "Mask as Asian-African Cultural Embodiment" with the followings as resource persons: Endo Suanda (a prominent figure in arts and culture) and Soei Ogura (Japanese mask carvers) with moderator Harry Sum (a figure in arts and culture) as well as the staging of Nagasaki Odori (by Widyatama University Students). Indonesia-Japan Mask Exhibition is one of the efforts to realize the cultural message of cooperation listed in the Final Communiqu� of KAA (Asian-Africa Conference) 1955. Great civilizations in Asia and Africa, which have a universal spiritual foundation, showing how rich a mask culture can be. For example, masks have become part of a religious ceremony in Africa. In Egypt, masks are worn at funerals. The cultures of Japan, China, and several other Asian regions also have cultural masks that are somewhat influenced by the values of Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as elements of Indian culture. In that connection, the leaders of the Asian-African countries in Asia-Africa Conference 1955 considered it essential to promote cultural cooperation between Asian and African countries in support of the process of mutual understanding among nations. Asia and Africa as the cradle of great religions and cultures have enriched many cultures and civilizations. Hopefully Indonesia-Japan Mask Exhibition can provide good opportunity for the citizens of Bandung, especially among the younger generation to learn and preserve the values of the philosophical heritage in every collection of masks on display. This activity was held in the spirit of cooperation among government institutions and communities including Provincial Government of West Java, Sri Baduga Central Management of State Museum of West Java, Abun Art Gallery Bandung, Culture and Tourism Department of West Java Province, Indonesia Arts College (STSI ), the leading figures in West Java Cultural Arts, Photography Student Association of Padjadjaran University, Japanese Studies Program Widyatama University, Japanese Studies Program of Indonesian Education University (UPI), Kabuyutan Braga Community, Karinding Karmila Music Group, and Pohaci Dance Group.