Book & The Arts

A display of kencrungs/Photo: Adji SoedibjoKencrung, a musical instrument whose name is derived from the "crung crung" sound, is one of the essential instruments in Indonesian keroncong orchestras, a Portuguese influenced style of music that also includes the guitar, string bass, cello, violin and flute. Together with the Hawaiian ukulele, the keroncong contributes a specific sound to the orchestra. But unlike the violin, the overriding instrument in any keroncong orchestra, the kencrung is only an accompaniment instrument, albeit a vital one.

Despite its diminishing popularity, keroncong is still performed across Indonesia. Street musicians often play kencrung on buses and on Jakarta's busy streets of Jakarta as well as in many other cities of the archipelago. In a recent exhibition at Bentara Budaya in Jakarta, a number of artists from Yogyakarta and its vicinity explored this small curvy-shaped instrument as a canvas for expressing various works of arts. Sixty-nine artists came together to craft kencrung into various artworks, transforming these beautiful instruments into fascinating objects colorfully painted and decorated.Dayung Kencrung or Ore/Photo: Adji Soedibjo

Using frying pans, biscuit jars and traditional stoves, the artists, all members of the Folk Mataram Institute (FMI), a community of professional and amateur artists, creatively turned this beloved instrument into many works of art. Ong Hari Wahyu, One of the curators of the show, states: "The members of FMI come from various walks of life and include farmers, artists, architects and even policemen. In the exhibition, they recreate something out of this three-stringed instrument, emphasizing its unique appearance."

Ambar Pranasmara, for example, designed a neck out of the instrument's arm with protruding breasts modelled from a torso made up of the instrument's body. Bayu Wardhana created a big kencrung in the form of a hedgehog titled Landak Kencrung Gunung Gamping. Other artists like Hermanu altered a kencrung into an oar titled Dayung Kencrung. Visitors could also see creations of Javanese wayang characters such as Gareng or Bagong, known for their satire and social commentary.

Rattan kencrung/Photo: Adji SoedibjoWahyu shared an aside about Baki village in Sukoharjo, Central Java, where locals have been producing musical instruments like guitars, violins, kencrungs and ukuleles since the early 1970s. "We actually ordered kencrungs from them and we discussed how to transform kencrungs into artworks, in ways beyond their traditional use as instruments," he added.

Baki's various musical instruments are sold in many cities across Indonesia as well as neighboring countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam. Prices range from 150,000 to 500,000 rupiahs per instrument. To make a ukulele for example, craftsmen use solid rosewood, teak, mahogany and other tropical timber widely available in Indonesia. Without the support of Baki's craftsmen, these creative artists from Yogyakarta would never have seen the creative limelight, realizing this harmonious shift from a beautiful musical instrument to an inspired work of art.

 

Frying pan kencrung/Photo: Adji Soedibjo