News
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I Wayan Sawat
meninggal hari Minggu, 14 Maret 2010 jam 23.15
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'Sanghyang Puruwisesa' , Sawat, 1984
Proposal
by
Yayasan Interkultur
I NJOMAN TJOKOT and I WAYAN SAWAT
Proposal Summary
Interkultur Foundation proposes to publish a catalogue and DVD of the works of I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat and is seeking sponsorship for associated costs (budget attached). The catalogue will be a substantial book containing images of all available works of these two important, but inadequately recognised, Indonesian sculptors, as well as essays by experts on their works. The DVD, which will accompany the catalogue, will include the first and only filmed interview of Sawat, who is now 75, as well as locational footage and digital images of the works. Both publications will be launched in Bali and Jakarta and marketed to major art and educational institutions throughout Indonesia and the world. The catalogue and DVD will be sold at a subsidised price to make them easily accessible to the Indonesian people.
Background
I Njoman Tjokot (ca. 1886–1971) was a renowned sculptor within the artistic and cultural circles of Bali and Indonesia. His wooden sculptures are the creation of a natural autodidact who never received any formal art training. His works have been called exotic, demonstrating a powerful, refined style, and containing high spiritual values.
His works are owned by local and international museums (e.g. Museum Puri Lukisan, Ubud, Bali; Denpasar Museum, Bali; Museum Istana Negara, Jakarta; Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde, Leiden; Tropen Museum, Amsterdam) and private collectors in Indonesia, Australia, The Netherlands and the USA (e.g. the actor Marlon Brando bought several works when he visited Bali).
Detail of a work by Sawat held in a private collection I Wayan Sawat (1943-) is the oldest son of I Njoman Tjokot. He inherited his father’s gift and style in sculpting. Like Tjokot, Sawat usually makes only one statue every year because to create a statue he must wait until he receives inspiration from the gods. This is one of the reasons both men’s works are rare and possess a strong spiritual character.
I Wayan Sawat. Both men are invaluable assets to Indonesia, examples of Indonesia’s creative spirit that draws on ancient traditions to make works of great complexity and extraordinary artistry. Sadly, both artists and their works seem to be forgotten, even among the majority of Indonesian sculptors and collectors. Our research has found that there is no complete, significant written or audio-visual catalogue or other documentation of I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat’s works, only small mentions in several news articles and a short reference in Jean Couteau’s Puri Lukisan and the Indonesian Heritage Encyclopaedia. The catalogue and DVD will be the first to comprehensively explore and reveal the lives and works of I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat. The catalogue and DVD will be an excellent reference and provide a perspective on the development of a neglected part of Balinese art, helping to place these two artists within a wider Indonesian and international context.
Interkultur Foundation
Interkultur Foundation has been formed partly from a desire to implement this project. The foundation already receives assistance from VIDA (Volunteering for International Development from Australia), funded by the Australian Government through AusAID, with Mr Robert Finlayson as Management Advisor.
Production
The final form of the catalogue will be decided once all images and essays are received but currently we estimate the publication to be 144 pages, A4 format, full colour throughout, perfect bound and printed in a run of 200 hard cover and 800 soft cover. One hundred of the hard cover titles will be numbered and signed by I Wayan Sawat if he is well enough.
Promotional Strategy
Work by I Njoman Tjokot in the RijksMuseum voor Volkenkunde, The NetherlandsThe promotional strategy aims to offer the publication to art, culture and education institutions in Indonesia and other countries, with a secondary focus on private collectors. Heavy emphasis will be placed on the use of electronic media for promotion and sales in order to most effectively reach international buyers. Accordingly, a purpose-built web site is of high importance, along with specialist, bi-lingual, experienced sales staff employed on a part-time basis over a three-year period. Two launches, in Bali and Jakarta, are aimed at introducing the publication to collectors and collecting institutions, artists, critics and influential people who value Indonesian culture, as well as acknowledging the support of our sponsors. The publication will be sold at a subsidised price so that ordinary Indonesians will be able to afford to own and enjoy a copy, along with international institutions and collectors. This strategy is standard practice by governments throughout the world that want to promote their nation’s artistic achievements.
Sponsors
Yayasan Interkultur humbly submits this proposal to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia with the hope that the Government will see the benefits to Indonesia of promoting two of its most interesting artists to the rest of the world. Yayasan Interkultur believes that these two men’s works and lives will be of great interest to artists, art institutions and collectors throughout the world and that the publication will reflect positively on Indonesia and its rich cultural heritage. If the Government decides to support this proposal, we believe that people who care about cultural heritage will applaud the Government’s decision.
Benefits of the Project
Images of the available works of I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat collected and distributed for the first time in these unique publications will influence and inspire other sculptors and artists and introduce the world to two of Indonesia’s important 20th century artists. Indonesia is a giant treasure trove of artists and art works that is not properly recognised internationally. The works and lives of these two artists represent a bridge between the ancient traditions of Indonesia and the world of modern, self-expressive art. Promoting them to their fellow Indonesians and to people throughout the world will help explain the process of transition from a traditional to a modern world as expressed through art. Indonesia has already lost or forgotten many of its artistic treasures. Yayasan Interkultur does not want the same to happen to I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat. We believe that the artists of Indonesia are of a world standard and the world should know about them.
Budget Estimation of the project is attached. Sponsorship Opportunities are outlined below.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Yayasan Interkultur offers you the opportunity to take part in this important project to reclaim and celebrate part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
For selected individuals and companies who want to become partners in creating a lasting record of the works of I Njoman Tjokot and I Wayan Sawat, there are several levels of involvement.
1. Full project sponsorship. Financial support of the whole project.
2. Urgent sponsorship. You financially support the most urgent elements of the project. In the first instance, this means air fares, camera hire, transport rental and meals costs for Ronny F. Poluan and the cameraman to travel to Bali from Jakarta to interview I Wayan Sawat and other relevant people. This is particularly urgent because of the poor state of health of I Wayan Sawat. The full cost for this stage is Rp 126.060.000, however, Yayasan Interkultur is willing to subsidise the project by as much as Rp 50.000.000 (waiving most personnel fees) in order to ensure that the interviews take place.
3. Stage sponsorship. You financially support selected stages of the project.
4. Page sponsorship. You sponsor a page of the catalogue, ensuring that the images of the works are available for other collectors and researchers to view and value (Rp 11.000.000 per page).
Acknowledgment of your contribution
Yayasan Interkultur will acknowledge your contribution on all promotional documentation and in the catalogue and DVD themselves. As well, you will be honoured at the launch of the catalogue and DVD in Bali and Jakarta, with special announcements during the launch ceremony and on all attendant promotional material. You will also receive copies of the catalogue and DVD, the number to be determined by the level of your contribution.
Security of your contribution
Together with you, Yayasan Interkultur will create a notarised agreement which details both parties’ contributions to the project. The agreement will include a requirement for an audit of the project budget and detail processes for returning to you any unspent funds from your contribution.
Please contact : (+62 81 2803 5297) to discuss sponsorship further: Email: tjokot@gmail.com
- Aernout Hagen (Museum Het Rembrandthuis) sent email with specific detail about 24 pieces of Tjokot in Leiden.
- Prof. Adrian Vickers (Univ. of Sydney, NSW) sent email with his copy article and some illustrations about Tjokot family & relative
