Let's see the photos below
These are pictures I took on "Pameran Warisan Tiong Hoa Peranakan Indonesia" at Bentara Budaya, Jakarta on January 25 2009, a day before the dated lunar new year. It was an amazing exhibition with various antiques back from the past.
The first picture are oyster skins planted on Djati Wood. A classic ornament from the Peranakan Chinese of Indonesia. This ornament is a result from search of the most functional material found in the land to create the most beautiful object. These kinds of ornaments are nowhere to be found in the Mainland Chinese culture.
While the other picture shows the instruments for playing the legendary GAMBANG KROMONG, the unique music that results from certain acculturation. These instruments have strong Javanese, Sumatranese, and Balinese effect, containing a Gong, Gamelan, etc. It's very amazing how chinese music can be acculturated through these Indonesian instruments.
Furnitures speak all of how humans behaves day-by-day. Those displayed in the exhibition has a strong sense of chinese, take a look at these photos.
The picture in the upper-left is called a cuiho. The word is rootly a name of a production company in China, Jui Ho. Right now it is simply a metonym. The tradition that lives within this cupboard is very emotional. It is known to be given to newly weds by their parents as a blessing. The upper-right is an opium seat and the last one is an altar for praying to the deceased. These original chinese culture lives through the Chinese Peranakan of Indonesia. But still, acculturation makes its way through these antiques. The carvings of each furniture have very bold characters of Javanese artists. The methods and materials are no longer China original.
This concludes to a statement, the Chinese Peranakan of Indonesia are not alike its origins. Too many elements of culture have been modified aligning to its efficiency. Compromises are made and slightly different objects are created. It's very interesting seeing Chinese culture trying to assimilate and adjust to changes in order to live in harmony and balance in the land they occupy. Yet the gap between still lingers.
The Chinese Peranakan today in Indonesia are still in question of their nationalism. It is said to be natural for Chinese born to exclude themselves from national activities because they don't belong. And on the other side, Indonesian originals tend to simplify the difference to "Pribumi" and "Cina". This is a never ending story. By bolding the boxes that exist from false pride and principals, both sides will never gain harmony over each other.
The exhibition tells it all. How we can keep our traditional customs, yet still try to merge the differences and never try to push too hard on meaningless grudge against each other. By creating harmony, peace can be achieved.
