INDONESIA | Cultural Bandung; from Modern Metals to Traditional Bamboos

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia

A sperm whale graciously broke free from the concrete ground—cold, dark and metallic—reaching for the ocean of leaves above; its tail, a few meters away from its head, still above ground, frozen in time as it waited its turn to dive beneath the solid floor.

After a scenic four-hour train from Jakarta to Bandung, I was pleasantly surprised to find art and culture awaiting us at Bandung, our second destination in Indonesia.



NUART SCULPTURE PARK

  ADDRESS: JALAN SETRA DUTA RAYA, BANDUNG | CONTACT NUMBER: +62-22-2017812 | ENTRANCE FEE: FREE | GPS MAP: -6.877417, 107.572325


Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
ENTRANCE TO BANDUNG’S NUART SCULPTURE PARK

Cold metal sculptures set on a lush outdoor background defines Nyoman Nuarta’s NuArt Sculpture Park, a park cum museum located north of Bandung. A cyclist, lost seconds of his shadow trailing him, set our expectations as we entered. Me, I had absolutely no expectations other than a good and filling lunch, lol.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
A CUTE STALL SELLING SNACKS, A BIG HIT WITH OUR FASHION BLOGGER FRIENDS
Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia N Cafe
N CAFE, ON A MEZZANINE INSIDE THE MUSEUM

Yes, we went here for lunch, but got more than what our tummies desired. The art complex has not one, but three places one can pig out on, a small food cart outside right by the parking lot, the N Café, located on the mezzanine of the museum, and the restaurant at the far end of the garden, which serves a mean plate of bebek goreng (crispy fried duck).

With our hunger satiated, it was time for our eyes and soul to feast.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
THE NUART BUILDING, MORE SCULPTURES INSIDE
Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
NO PIPED IN MUZAK HERE, THEY PLAY LIVE AMBIENT MUSIC FOR VISITORS

NuArt Sculpture Park’s five-hectare ground is dedicated to nothing but Nyoman Nuarta’s sculptural masterpieces. Born in Bali and educated in Bandung, this brass and copper artist who has been hailed as one of the pioneers of the New Art Movement has been transforming the Indonesian landscapes with his megalithic sculptures. From the 30-meter tall Jalesveva Jayamahe statue and the 12-meter long bull-race sculptures in Surabaya, up to his latest work in progress, the USD 40 million Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali, which is designed to be the tallest monument in the whole of Indonesia.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
INSIDE THE NUART BUILDING
Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
SMALLER ART PIECES, BUT NO LESS ENTRHALLING

Of course, you won’t see his mega-sculptures here at NuArt. What is showcased here are his smaller, more intimate works. But that doesn’t mean they’re lesser works of art, just smaller in scale. The pieces are scattered throughout the sprawling grounds of the park, a concentration of which, housed inside the NuArt Building.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
NUARTA WORKS WITH BRASS AND COPPER

The complex is quite huge; point in fact, it even has its own waterfalls set within its grounds. My companions were lucky enough to witness one of his gargantuan works being detailed near the area. It was just too bad that I myself wasn’t able to see it, I would’ve loved to see what tools they use for such megalithic sculptures.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
MR. NYOMAN NUARTA HIMSELF

During our visit, we were able to speak with the man himself, as he explains the thought process for his works. He related to us how everything comes from struggles and conflict within the Indonesian society; his whale sculpture a protest for whale fishing; the centerpiece of his museum, a sculpture of a woman lying on the ground, a voice for rape.

Nuart Sculpture Park Bandung Indonesia
SCULPTURE DETAIL, SIGNED BY NUARTA

Indeed, crisis sparks creativity. And none more so at the NuArt Sculpture Park. The good thing about it is that all those negativities have been transformed into something positive. And you can feel that as you stroll about the park.



SAUNG ANGKLUNG UDJO

  ADDRESS: JALAN PADASUKA, BANDUNG | CONTACT: +62-22-7271714 | ENTRANCE: FROM IDR60,000.00 | GPS MAP: -6.898065, 107.655026


Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
A FULL SET OF ANGKLUNG

Bamboos rule less than an hour away from the modern metal installations of NuArt Park. The Saung Angklung Udjo or Udjo’s House of Angklung showcases West Java’s culture, with special focus on the angklung, a musical instrument made of two to four differing bamboo tubes that produces a pleasant note when shaken.

Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
BOYS PLAY TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN INSTRUMENTS ONSTAGE

If you have no idea what an angklung is, you’d get to have one on your hands the moment you enter Udjo’s premises, albeit a miniature one. It would serve as your ticket, which also goes along with a bottle of water and a stick of ice cream. Quite strange, that last one, but totally appreciated, lol.

Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
A YOUNG PLAYER BUSY WITH HIS PERCUSSIONS

Udjo’s House of Angklung is a project by the husband and wife tandem of Udjo Nalagena and Uum Sumiyati to preserve and showcase West Java’s Sudanese culture and traditions. They have been admitting guests at their gates since 1966, and now, it’s our turn to pass through and witness all that they have worked upon.

A photo posted by Christian L. Sangoyo (@lakadpilipinas) on

 

We caught the afternoon show which was set on a covered amphitheater with an elevated stage out front. It started with a traditional puppet show featuring foot-high wooden puppet dolls they refer to as wayang golek.

Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
WAYANG GOLEK, CAN’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING BUT IT’S ENTERTAINING ENOUGH

The show is set on a small platform while music is played on the background. The dialogues were in Bahasa Indonesia and I have absolutely no clue what was going on as the play proceeded. It kinda made me wish that there was a subtitle of sorts for foreigners watching. In all fairness though, they do provide the synopsis on the flyers they give out to guests.

Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
CAN YOU IMAGINE ONE OF THESE STARING RIGHT AT YOU IN YOUR ROOM AT NIGHT?

But I know one thing though, these puppets, which are intricately made and very detailed, are nightmarishly scary. They sell some at the souvenir store at really affordable prices, but I really wouldn’t want one displayed inside my room, haha.

Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
EVEN KIDS CAN PLAY THE ANGKLUNG!
Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
A FULL ENSEMBLE PLAYNG MODERN SONGS USING TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS
Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
WE WERE EACH GIVEN AN ANGKLUNG WITH A DESIGNATED NUMBER
Saung Angklung Udjo Bandung Indonesia
AND NOW IT’S OUR TIME TO PLAY!

The angklung show came right after as local performers, both kids and adults, flocked the stage to play the instrument. Since an angklung can only produce a single note, an orchestra of angklung players is needed to play an entire song. The best part about it was that even the audience was given the chance to play, and play we did! We even did a Beatles song! It was easy enough with a maestro out front, cueing everyone when to shake their bamboos. It was a surprisingly fun experience, something you’d not usually expect from cultural shows.

~ INDONESIA'S MINISTRY OF TOURISM INVITED ME AS A PART OF THE TRIP OF WONDERS TOUR. VIEWS, OPINIONS & BIASES, ALL MINE.


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