NOV 6 2020_
// Rampogan Macan
Festival Budaya Online (FBO) illustration competition entry by Petra Christian University, Surabaya.
this performance is usually held at 1 Shawwal, as a symbol of cleansing oneself from disturbances. according to R. Wessing's KITLV journal entitled "A Tiger in The Heart: Javanese Rampok Macan", explains that since 1791 this tradition has been regularly held, including welcoming guests from Europe as a show. Rampogan Macan is a very symbolic performance, presenting Southeast Asian culture (tiger and buffalo) as if to show off the extraordinary wealth of our homeland. However, if put into the context of colonialism, the Rampogan Macan performance shifts it's meaning to become a symbol of resistance between the invaders (tigers) and the natives (buffalos).
In Rampogan Macan, there are usually 4-5 types of tigers; Javan tigers, leopards, and panthers. the tiger is pitted against the buffalo. usually carried out in the town square, forming a large circle surrounded by 4 layers of spear soldiers. if the tiger advances to be victorious, he will still be chased and hit by the spear in crowd. Sometimes a tiger does not need to be pitted against a bull first, but also directly faced by soldiers like the Roman Gladiators in the Colosseum. Even though it had to end with the extinction of the Javan Tiger and the critical conservation status of the Javan leopard, the Dutch East Indies colonial government finally banned the Rampogan Macan in 1905.
Because this work is part of the 2020 Festival Budaya Online (FBO) entry competition held by Petra Christian University Surabaya, I was obliged to write a short story about the illustration work I made.
The character I drew was Janadi, a wild animal hunter for the Tiger Rampogan show. As time went on, Janadi increasingly resented his job of catching the tiger alive only to be slaughtered, pitted against bulls, and used as entertainment to welcome European aristocrats who were guests of honor for the Sultanate. Not only once but hundreds of times this activity was carried out (1791-1905). Disgusted, Janadi dared to meet and join forces with Bajra, the Tiger King in saving the lives of other tigers in the future by stopping the Rampogan Tiger show now and for good.
The reason I made the character Janadi is about the importance of courage in facing and addressing the ugliness, greed and ignorance that occurs in our immediate environment. The extinction of the Javan Tiger is the result of the disgrace of Javanese culture, I want to spread awareness by learning from this phenomenon, so that we can think openly and move forward by caring for all forms of life and not responding to it on behalf of personal interests alone.
you could find this complete works on my personal instagram account
Thank you!
