Author: Richard Dawson
Publication: Swissinfo
Date: February 11, 2002
URL: http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=201&sid=994242
Basel's Museum of Culture is staging
an exhibition of the most important permanent collection of Balinese cultural
artefacts outside Bali.
For most of the million or so tourists
who go there every year, Bali is known as "the last paradise" because of
its beaches and tropical scenery. But to the inhabitants of the comparatively
small Indonesian province it's the "Island of the Gods", and that 's the
title of the Basel exhibition.
The links between Basel and Bali
go back to 1919, when Basel ethnologist Paul Wirz began conducting systematic
research and documentation of Balinese culture. Among other things he made
a study of the death cult of the Hindu-Balinese, and it was through him
that the collection took shape.
Artists, musicians and other ethnologists
from Basel followed up his work, and since 1972 their findings have been
meticulously documented by the curator of the current exhibition, Urs Ramseyer.
Entitled "Bali - Island of the Gods",
the exhibition conveys the magical aura of a culture whose driving force
remains religion. "Fundamentally it's a culture moved by the motor of religion,"
says Ramseyer.
A living culture
"Religion is still very important
in Balinese thinking and is even part of everyday life, and as long as
the ceremonies connected to people and nature are needed in Bali, we will
continue to have the opportunity to see a very living culture."
Ramseyer concedes that to some extent
mass tourism has had a detrimental effect on present-day culture, for example
with folkloric dance performances being staged for commercial purposes.
However he adds that by being the
focus of attention for foreign visitors, the Balinese people have been
made more aware of the need to preserve and continue their rituals of the
past.
The Basel exhibition, which runs
for several months, is divided into three parts. The first concentrates
on precious objects, some relating to the cult of death as well as to witch
cults and magic practices. Highlights include a temple gate and a cremation
tower, both adorned with mythological references.
A second section highlights the
richness of the museum's Balinese silk textile collection, while the third
- "Living in Two Worlds" - features photographs reflecting the links between
centuries-old tradition and the present day.
