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TMII celebrates 40th anniversary with RI cultural fiesta
Say it with fashion: Subari Sofyan (left) discusses his designs with the jury in a creative traditional fashion competition held at the Indonesian Miniature Park (TMII) during its 40th anniversary event on Saturday
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span class="inline inline-center">Say it with fashion: Subari Sofyan (left) discusses his designs with the jury in a creative traditional fashion competition held at the Indonesian Miniature Park (TMII) during its 40th anniversary event on Saturday. Subari was among dozens of designers from the country's 34 provinces to join the competition. JP/RBK
Subari Sofyan sang an old East Javanese song before presenting his models in front of a panel of judges.
He was one of many fashion designers who participated in the creative traditional fashion competition held by Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.To celebrate its fourth decade, the park has organized a series of events that will peak on Monday.
TMII is offering free admission for its anniversary, but vehicle charges are still imposed. Visitors are being lured by various cultural exhibitions showcasing traditional music, dance, fashion, local goods, food, flora and fauna.
A fashion show on Saturday showed off the works of designers from the country's 34 provinces. Subari, for example, created beautiful Banyuwangi, East Java, wedding gowns and suits made from materials found in the sea and markets such as fishing nets, shells, sand and sacks.
The cheeks of female models had flowers drawn on them with sand. He wanted to show that despite living in poverty, local fishermen in his region could hold wedding celebrations with designer gowns.
'Coastal people can have beautiful weddings with such [recycled] gowns and suits,' he said. Outside the hall where the fashion competition was held, around 2,000 people were preparing for Sunday's culture parade.
Around 1,500 female students were practicing ratoeh jaroe, an Acehnese traditional Saman dance, circling the Plasa Tugu Api Pancasila while others rehearsed, playing Sundanese angklungs inside a nearby hall.
Sunday's dance performance will be followed by an evening shadow puppet show by puppet master Ki Sukron Suwondo. Prior to the evening shows, there will be cultural shows in each traditional house.
TMII public relations head Jerrimias Lahama said each traditional house was managed by its respective regional administration.
'Each traditional house runs different shows every weekend,' he said.
Opened on April 20, 1975, TMII is a 150-hectare park comprising traditional houses from 33 provinces (new province North Kalimantan's has yet to be built), 17 museums, 12 educational gardens, six houses of worship, two guesthouses and 11 entertainment and leisure centers such as the country's first 3D theater, Keong Mas, cable car ride, and newly opened Snowbay water park.
Indonesia's second first lady, Tien Soeharto, initiated the park's establishment to promote Indonesia's culture to the world and nourish the nation's love for the country's rich diversity.
Her initiative met strong protest from students in the 1970s because the project resulted in the eviction of locals and sentiment toward her husband, then president Soeharto, started to sour.
With a size twice that of the National Monument (Monas) park, TMII looked merry on Saturday, offering bike rentals and allowing vehicles to enter.
Faizal, 11, said he liked visiting the Science and Technology Demonstration Center (PPIPTEK) the most because it taught him science in a fun way.
Christina, 30, a tourist from China, said she enjoyed learning about different local cultures.(rbk)
