PAPUA – The Maramowe Weaiku Komorowe Foundation held an exhibition of Kamoro carving art at Alenia Coffee & Kitchen, Kemang, South Jakarta. The almost extinct art from Papua was attended by Kamoro carvers from Timika Pantai and Karaka Island villages. Luluk Intarti, founder and advisor of the Maramowe Foundation, said that the exhibition aims to bring the public closer to the art and culture of the Kamoro tribe.
This includes being able to enjoy and buy Papuan carvings. Moreover, according to Luluk, Papuan carving crafts are only left from three tribes. Those are the Asmat tribe which is well known to many people, the Kamoro tribe and the Sempan tribe.
The three tribes come from the southern coast of Papua, while in other parts of Papua, such as the northern coast of Papua, the carving culture has become extinct since the strengthening of religious influence. “For Kamoro carving art alone, production declined under the 50s. It is not extinct, but almost dead. So we have to preserve it so that we don’t lose this culture, like what happened on the North coast,” said Luluk in the statement received.
To continue encouraging Kamoro carvers in their work, the foundation assisted by PT Freeport Indonesia provides guidance to the carvers. This is so that they can always improve the quality of their carvings and open market access so that these carvings can provide economic benefits for the Kamoro people. Luluk admitted that her party went directly to the southern coastal areas of Papua to find the best carvings that could be marketed. The Kamoro cultural promotion and preservation program was initiated by Dr Kal Muller, the predecessor of the Maramowe Foundation, in 1996 with the support of Freeport Indonesia.
“The company also supported the organization of the first Kamoro Tribe cultural festival in 1997 onwards. The festival attracted collectors and buyers of their unique wood carvings. Freeport also actively supports the participation of Kamoro artists in exhibitions held both at home and abroad,” Luluk said.
Meanwhile, Riza Pratama, Vice President Corporate Communication of PT Freeport Indonesia, said that the company has a strong commitment to support the preservation of the Kamoro tribe’s carving culture. Of course, the sales proceeds from the exhibition can also improve the welfare of the carvers, so that the cultural activities also continue.
“The profits from the sale of carved items at the exhibition also go back to the carvers,” Riza said. The exhibition features four Kamoro carvers from Timika Pantai and Karaka Island villages.
They are Herman Kiripi (38), Kornelis Kiripi (40), Klemens Nawatipia (43) and Daniel Matameka (26). They conducted live carving demonstrations on the spot every day during the exhibition. Klemens Nawatipia said that the world today has developed a lot. However, he hopes that children will not forget the original culture inherited from their ancestors. “I am happy with this event and Freeport’s support so that we can be here and not forget our culture,” Klemens said. In this exhibition, Klemens carved many typical coastal Kamoro motifs, including boat, shrimp and fish motifs.