The Mangun Dharma art center was established in 1989 to provide a venue for performances and happenings, and to serve as a support system for the traditional arts of East Java. Through publications, performances and by facilitating tuition, the art center promotes the many different types of expressions of East Javanese traditional arts including their research, study and performance in all cultural contexts.
Located in Tumpang, 23 km to the east of Malang, East Java province, the art center rests in the foothills of the Bromo-Tengger Mountain ranges, and draws from the rich cultural traditions found in this mountainous area.
The facility provides a forum for the discussion of current concerns in traditional and contemporary arts and welcomes artists from all disciplines. It is an ideal base for international exchange.
The 'hub' of the M.D.A.C. (Mangun Dharma Art C enter) is a large pendopo, or open air pavilion which serves as a performance, practice and rehearsal space. It houses the gamelan (Javanese orchestra), and there is always someone playing an instrument, singing or dancing. Members from all levels of the Javanese arts community visit and watch the proceedings, discuss recent events or organize those for the future. Often it is just a great place to hang out and drink coffee.
Often the house and the pendopo turn into a hive of activity in preparation for shows ordered at the art center. The kitchen then fills with the smells of cooking and with the mountains of colorful offerings; the pendopo converts into some new performance space, and the audience slowly settles in --
We are often commissioned to choreograph and perform dance dramas. In the past these have included such things as environmental issues like pollution or historical stories based on such things as the Majapahit Kingdom ("Wijaya Narapati") or the rice goddess, Dewi Sri. In 2002 we contributed shadow puppets and a recording of a shadow puppet play based on the story of Dewi Sri to UCLA for their rice exhibition. After showing for a year at the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, the exhibition is currently being displayed at the University of Hawaii.
Because the traditional arts in Java are integral to the well-being of the community, they have to reflect changes in the artist's world. We not only preserve the traditional arts, but we aim to help keep the arts alive. The Mangun Dharma Art Center exists to reinforce the sense of identity that grows from the act of making art. We aim to give the arts back to the community, local and worldwide.
Over the past year we have expanded our dance programs to include three childrens groups. These kids have great talent and have been invited to perform all over East Java.
We try to offer regular performances in Tumpang, inviting different regional performers: in the past years we have had monthly shadow puppet performances, mask dance theater performances and monthly mocopat sung poetry.
The art center is run by the husband and wife team of Malang-native M. Soleh Adi Pramono and American Karen Elizabeth Sekararum.