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Friday, 28 September 2018 12:58

Taman Gandrung Terakota

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On 22nd September 2018, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java has just inaugurated Taman Gandrung Terakota -TGT. The tourism icon of Bayuwangi that will attract young tourists has hundreds of Gandrung dance statues. The park becomes special because it was built at terrace rice fields under Mt. Ijen located in Jiwa Jawa Ijen Resort,  Licin sub-district, Banyuwangi. According to  Sigit Pramono, an initiator of Taman Gandrung Terakota, the  park is a site to preserve and reconcile   Gandrung dance  as one of cultural identities of Banyuwangi. Moreover, he said that Gandrung art is a form of gratitude of flourishing agriculture output. Therefore, the site of Rawat Tari Gandrung is located at rice farming where the farmers keep plowing rice field by buffalo, planting and cropping paddy. Taman Gandrung Terakota is inspired by Terracotta Warrior and Horses in China, which was built at Qin Shi Huang during the emperor era in 259-210 BC. The setting involved art curators from Galeri Nasional Indonesia and a lecturer of   Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta, Dr. Suwarno Wisetrotomo. There are about 1,000 statues of Gandrung dance at the Park. The statues are placed separately and collectively. The park is called ‘Terakota’ because it is another name of pottery that is used as a basic material of visualization for Gandrung dance. Models of statue at Taman Gandrung Terakota are taken by a photographer, Sigit’s photos. Then, the photos were created to be statues by Budi Santoso artist and were printed by statue makers in Kasongan, Yogyakarta. The statues were made manually one by one. Even though they have the same formation, there are some differences. The major differences are facial expressions and smiles of Gandrung dance. The statues were made of pottery, such as burned clay. It was made of pottery because the pottery has strong philosophy related to Gandrung dance, it is meant to be closer with nature based on the philosophy of life. If you are in Taman Gandrung Terakota, you can enjoy beauty of Mt. Ijen whose height is 2.443 meters above sea level at the west side. Mt. Ijen has crater which radiates blue flame globally. Looking at the east side, there is blue aura of Bali strait. You can enjoy not only a series of statues of Gandrung dance, but also green hills and terrace rice fields, farmers’ plowing rice field, coffee farm, durian trees, various kinds of bamboos and local endemic plants at the park. There are open amphitheaters for scheduled-art show of and Jazz music exhibition at the middle of the park.

Read 1628 times Last modified on Friday, 28 September 2018 13:45