Come And Learn Of The Javanese Legacy In Singapore

By Massita Ahmad Bernama's correspondent Massita Ahmad shares her take on the happenings across the causeway. SINGAPORE, June 7 (Bernama) -- Do you know how to make tempeh (a traditional soy product)? Do you want to learn how to make this Javanese delicacy made by deep frying fermented soy bean? Do come to the exhibition jointly presented by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) and the Javanese Association of Singapore (JAS), that traces the social and cultural history of Singapore's Javanese community. The three month-exhibition from May 29 to Aug 18, provides visitors the opportunity to experience the Javanese culture including through workshops and seminars right from making tempeh to learning basic Javanese. There are also seminars on interesting topics such as batik (ancient handmade fabric art), jamu (traditional herbal medicine) and Javanese mysticism. "Our culture is a precious link to the early Javanese population that had contributed to the rich heritage in Singapore, and we have to safeguard it for our future generations to treasure and appreciate," JAS' President, Omar Ismail said. "We are honoured to have this opportunity to present our culture to the rest of Singapore, and the exhibition will serve to inspire young Javanese to learn more about it and play a part in preserving it for future generations," he said. The Javanese were amongst the biggest group of the early settlers in Singapore. Many came as merchants, traders, artisans and labourers, and settled in Kampong Jawa, where they added to the diversity of the cosmopolitan port town of Kampong Gelam. These early migrants brought with them unique culture and traditions, and played an influential role in shaping the Malay heritage and identity here. Titled Pusaka: Heritage and Culture of the Javanese in Singapore, the exhibition highlights the significance of pusaka or inheritance to the Javanese community in Singapore. "The Se-Nusantara series aims to highlight Singapore's place in the wider Malay world, and provide a closer look at diversity within our local Malay community," said MHC's curator, Suhaili Osman. "This exhibition, in particular, is an excellent example of how we live and breathe heritage in our daily lives sometimes without realising it. "We hope that visitors will enjoy an immersive viewing experience of Javanese culture through the exhibition and programming, and with this, better appreciate the many different aspects of our multi-cultural society, and how our shared heritage is actually manifested in our everyday activities," she said. The exhibition also focuses on the ways in which the community continues to uphold their traditions and culture, and passes them down to the coming generations. This is the third installation in MHC's Se-Nusantara series, held annually to celebrate the rich ethnic diversity of the Malays in Singapore. The Javanese pondok (communal lodging house) which used to stand in Kampong Gelam was known as a centre for Javanese culture, where regular cultural performances including wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre) were staged. From May 29, visitors would be able to better understand the vibrant Javanese performing arts through displays on, and about, wayang kulit, kuda kepang (a traditional folk dance depicting the movement of horses), and the gamelan. The exhibition also features various Javanese arts groups which reflect the efforts of the local Javanese community in preserving elements of their rich cultural heritage. Visitors will be able to experience Javanese performing arts first-hand in two special performances. In July, enjoy Malam Keroncong, a new interactive rendition of wayang kulit (a shadow puppet play) and keroncong music (the name of a small ukulele-like instrument and an Indonesian musical style), performed by an upcoming group Cong Way Ndut from Solo, Indonesia and Singaporean crooner Rudy Djoharnaen. In August, the famous Ramayana will be presented through the three main branches of Javanese performing arts – gamelan, beksa (dance) and wayang kulit (shadow play). This visual and musical spectacle will feature the Gamelan Asmaradana and Gamelan Singa Nglaras from Singapore, and the Sanggar Tari Soerya Soemirat Istana Mangkunegaran from Indonesia. In addition, young visitors can try their hands at making mini kuda kepang props, designing kekayon (tree of life), and creating wayang kulit leather puppets. The Javanese feel that 'barang pusaka' (heirlooms) serve to reinforce a strong sense of Javanese identity. Thus, in addition to Javanese performing arts, the exhibition also looks at the social and cultural life of the Javanese in Singapore including how everyday objects may also be considered as pusaka. This is presented through an eclectic range of over 35 community-contributed artifacts, such as a batik textile bearing a geometric motif, a commissioned keris, an old Javanese book written in the Hanacaraka script (commonly used by writers from the kraton royalties hailing from Surakarta and Yogyakarta) as well as a gunungan puppet, commonly used in wayang kulit performances. These hold great meaning and stories for the families who own them. --BERNAMA