The Remarkable Creativity of Indonesian Traditional Arts, Part 2 of 2

The Saman dance performed by the Gayo people of Bali’s Aceh province was listed as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. This is a dance often performed at important occasions such as national holidays or to welcome honored guests. The formal Saman dance costume consists of an orange and black outfit with an embroidered motif that symbolizes nature and noble values.

The Indonesian art of puppetry or Wayang has over a 1,000-year history and is still popular today, especially in Java and Bali. A puppet show combines exquisitely crafted puppets, a lively performance, beautiful traditional music, and fascinating stories. Thus, it is popular among people of all ages and attracts increasing numbers of tourists as well. In 2003, the three kinds of puppetry we have introduced so far were designated as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Indonesia is known for textiles dyed with intricate patterns and designs. Such special textiles, called Batik, are among the country’s national treasures and have a more than 1,000-year history. Among its numerous traditional costumes from different regions, clothing featuring Batik, along with the women’s upper garment, kebaya, have been recognized as Indonesia’s national costume, and October 2 is designated as “National Batik Day.” Batik is also a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia. Today it’s said that more than 3,000 known Batik designs exist, and some have been passed down for generations. Historically, different designs can signify the wearer’s social status, place of origin and even religion, and certain designs are to be worn for certain occasions.

The artistic talent of the Indonesian people is also evident in their myriad of traditional crafts such as sophisticated wood and stone carving, jewelry and furniture making, and architecture. Art is naturally integrated into almost everything they use. It appears that to the people of Indonesia, art is simply a way of life.