The First Jakarta Contemporary Ceramics Biennale
JCCB #1
North Art Space - Pasar Seni Ancol
Jakarta
2009
Faith and Believe
stoneware clay + paper, stoneware clay + dried leaves, installed with found objects:
copper wire, old coins, red cotton thread, stone, flower petals, feathers (cock's feather),
small scissors, nail clipper, small cutter, incense (kemenyan), tule lace, hand-crafted mini book.
Set quantity : Seven (7) pieces: each approx. (l.w.h) = (43 x 8 x 1,5) cm
Human being are universal wherever they are. Either they resides in East or West, they’re no differences in traditions, believes, rituals, cultures. All about the symbolization and the performances which make the differences. Even in modern era, when human being are more educated, when knowledge and science have helped human being to think more logical, but still, in a certain situation and condition, they prefer to be ‘traditional’, they still remains superstitious to the things that seems urge them to ‘believe’ and have no power to avoid it. When faith versus mystical things, and people surrendered their logic to be superstitious, and their faith challenged to choose in believing God Almighty or following men’s rituals, then the ‘faith’ and the ‘superstitious’ has to (urge to) be side by side.
There are many objects use as ‘symbol’ of ritual. I recently resides in Bali, a beautiful Island, when the residences are very strong in their tradition and culture. Their life is about ceremony rituals and offerings. They believe that every object both ‘life things’ and ‘things’, are have soul. Several days ago, I join the ‘Tumpak Landep’ ceremony, that is the ceremony to praise anything made from metal. Bali is Hinduism. Whereas my family, in Chinese tradition, we do the same offerings. When we go to our ancestor’s, grandparents’ or parents’ graveyard, for the Chinese New Year praying, we have to bring fruits, snack, rice, chicken, and pork. In Bali, pork also use as offerings, and they use flowers, fruits, rice for offerings.
Another example, when my younger sister get married, the Chinese tradition leads her to give me any sharpener objects, such as nail clipper, scissor, small cutter, etc. These objects are believe as protector for the elder sister. This tradition also happened in Javanese tradition, and maybe for Asian tradition.
Modern people understands that such kind rituals merely as tradition (superstitious believe), but they still do it until now, like an eternity tradition. The good things as this era move on, they simplify the rituals and symbolization.
There are many objects use as ‘symbol’ of ritual. I recently resides in Bali, a beautiful Island, when the residences are very strong in their tradition and culture. Their life is about ceremony rituals and offerings. They believe that every object both ‘life things’ and ‘things’, are have soul. Several days ago, I join the ‘Tumpak Landep’ ceremony, that is the ceremony to praise anything made from metal. Bali is Hinduism. Whereas my family, in Chinese tradition, we do the same offerings. When we go to our ancestor’s, grandparents’ or parents’ graveyard, for the Chinese New Year praying, we have to bring fruits, snack, rice, chicken, and pork. In Bali, pork also use as offerings, and they use flowers, fruits, rice for offerings.
Another example, when my younger sister get married, the Chinese tradition leads her to give me any sharpener objects, such as nail clipper, scissor, small cutter, etc. These objects are believe as protector for the elder sister. This tradition also happened in Javanese tradition, and maybe for Asian tradition.
Modern people understands that such kind rituals merely as tradition (superstitious believe), but they still do it until now, like an eternity tradition. The good things as this era move on, they simplify the rituals and symbolization.
