Art Festival and the Revival of Tradition in the Post-reform Era of Indonesia

Abstract

: The political crisis in 1998 had created feelings of anxiety and fears for Indonesians people including artists and cultural activists. When many people remained their feelings unspoken because of high political pressure, artists and poets in West Java channelled their feelings through artistic works. Nyiar Lumar festival in Ciamis, West Java, is a biennial event created in this situation for the first time in 1998. Later, it becomes one of the biggest festivals in West Java as it has attracted thousands of people attending the series of art activities in the long day activity. Not only succeeded in creating outstanding artistic work, but also Nyiar Lumar has become a symbolic work that brought its audiences into new ‘myths’ of historical, political, and cultural glory of Sundanese in the past. Located in a historical site of old Sundanese Kingdom, Astana Gede, Ciamis, Nyiar Lumar uses traditional and natural artistic elements representing old symbols that have conveyed the Sundanese audience to celebrating their cultural glory in the past. Besides, the festival is also a medium for the youth to learn their tradition. This means the festival is a bridge for transmitting Sundanese tradition and its values to the younger generation.