Topeng Geger, One of A Traditional Handicraft in Indonesia

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Masks have various functions. The first function however is to cover the face and this on various ritual or other occasions. But the most encyclopedias describe the mask as an implement in a dance or drama performance. Which sometimes relate to ancient stores or Symbolic events of humanity. Masks are almost as old ’as any form of human culture.

In Indonesia is a mask a from of traditional art. The masks are made from wood and take the shape of the figure of animals, humans, gods and so forth. They usually have a characterized face for added impact. Mask can be worn for special dances but are also a traditional handicraft in Indonesia.

Usually Indonesia masks are made from wood such as ”kayu kemiri, jaranan, mentaos and pule”. However, other type of wood is also used. The ancient techniques for mask making are not the same as we might customarily think of today. In fact, meditation, fasting and other ritual activities to bring magic to the mask and to insure its durability often accompanied these techniques.

Topeng Geger

Topeng Geger, the mask used in special dance called klana topeng, is found in dusun Gebrak, desa Semanu, kabupaten Gunung Kidul. It original came from Kalibulus, Ngemplak Jangkang, and Kabupaten Sleman. It belongs to Gondopuspito. Topeng Geger was brought by Ki dalang Cermo Jayeng Carito/Guno Semito to dusun Gebrak, desa Semanu kabupaten Gunung Kidul during the Kepanjen age (1915). Since then it has been adopted and developed into the traditional folk dancing that exists today.

Topeng Geger helped shape ”Topeng Klana” The word ”Klana” comes from the word ”ngelana”, meaning ”kelana”, one who wanders about without any definite destination. In other in other words, one who happily travels only for, ”nuruti krenteging ati, angon ulating netra, linambaring anteping tekad kajumbuhake marang obahing suku Ian pangolahing piker’’. Mardi Wasito in the old Javanese Indonesian dictionary supports that ”ngala, nglelana or kelana” means someone who enjoys traveling.

Similarly, the word ”Geger” is the mask that was created with this character trait. It is said that if this mask is worn by a dancer, it will cause the rain to fall and addition, the spectators will be sympathetic to the dancer. Because of this, if mask is to be used in a performance, many rituals (called ”sesaji”) are performed to avoid undesirable events.

Presently, topeng kyai Geger is taken care of by Wito Gimin, the family of Somowasito. The mask is covered by a special white cloth called ”mori/ules”. Also included with it is ”sesaji”, on a Friday night, the mask is covered with a special perfume called ”kemenyan”.

Klana topeng is a dance with tells the story of a king from Bentar Angin, Klana Sewandana, who falls in love with Dewi Sekartaji, the daughter of a king from Kediri. Because of his love, Klana loses control and behaves in a crazy manner. The dance represents the actions of flirting, dressing up and parading back and forth in front of the mirror. It is as if Klana was facing Dewi Sekartaji, but in reality he is only facing himself.

The dance of Klana topeng also has a philosophical side. Klana Sewandana symbolizes a king having a devil, like character, which will be defeated by another character having a holy attitude. This other character is called Pangi (as well as Panji Inu Kertapati, Panji Kertapati, Panji Carangwaspa and Panji Kuda Sesiring).

As mentioned earlier, during the Klana topeng dance, a mask is worn. This dance occurs during the second scene of a greater performance and its part of the larger whole is called ”Sabrangan”. The character in this scene is the antagonist in Panji story. This scene includes some giants from Bantar Angin and Mendung Prahara. However, the main character in this scene is Klana Sewandana. (From : Bejo Haryono/Mask The Other Face of Humanity)

Photograph :

Repr. “Mask The Other Face of Humanity”

Picture :

The Mask of “Klana” from Surakarta.