A day at the colorful Indonesian Umbrella Festival

Sun, October 30, 2016 / 09:50 am

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A vivid scene of colorful umbrellas against the background of the blue sky perfectly translates the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival’s (FPI) theme, “Sky Umbrella, Exploring Indonesia”, into reality. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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Beautiful, brightly colored umbrellas welcome visitors at the entrance of the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival held at Balekambang Park in Surakarta, Central Java. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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For the third time, Balekambang Park, which was built by Surakarta king KGPAA Mangkunegara VII, hosts the Indonesian Umbrella Festival. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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Artisans from Kaliwungu, Kendal, Central Java, choose oil paints to color paper umbrellas to make them more vibrant. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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An umbrella maker from Kaliwungu, Kendal, Central Java, decorates an umbrella using oil paints. Customers are primarily attracted to umbrellas painted with flowers and animals. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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A student from the Indonesia Art and Design Academy in Surakarta makes an umbrella as a medium to convey a message. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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A man paints a name on an umbrella during the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival. Umbrellas decorated with names, produced by artisans from Juwiring, Klaten, attracted visitors at the festival. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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Solo Rajuter crochet community members, who are mostly housewives, demonstrate their skills by crocheting an umbrella.JP / Kus Hendratmo
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A dancer performs during the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival at Balekambang Park, Surakarta, Central Java. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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A Topeng Ireng dancer from Boyolali, Central Java, puts on her headdress before a performance at the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival at Balekambang Park, Surakarta, Central Java. JP / Kus Hendratmo
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Visitors enjoy an umbrella display lit up by colored lights during the 2016 Indonesian Umbrella Festival at Balekambang Park, Surakarta, in the evening. JP / Kus Hendratmo

Held for the third time in Surakarta, Central Java, from Sept. 23 to 25, the annual Indonesian Umbrella Festival [FPI] charmed visitors with beautiful, brightly colored umbrellas.

Throughout the three-day festival, hundreds of visitors packed Balekambang Park to enjoy the exotic umbrellas displayed across the park that was built by Surakarta king KGPAA Mangkunegara VII in 1921.

The festival’s organizing committee applied a zero-waste regulation to make the event comfortable for all visitors.

“In principle, this festival is a celebration of the people. Therefore, we are transforming all the people potential into cultural power. Umbrellas are part of our culture. Through the 2016 FPI, we want to perform new works inspired by umbrellas,” festival initiator Heru Mataya said.

Colorful umbrellas greeted visitors from the park’s entrance. The beautiful art works captivated their eyes. They seemed unable to wait any longer to take selfies in front of the umbrella art installations, giving more spirit to the festival atmosphere.

Pictures uploaded on social media, in fact, became a magnet for many people to visit the 2016 FPI themed “Sky Umbrella, Exploring Indonesia”.

“Social media has become an efficient publication tool,” said Heru. [ebf]