Page 23 - Mediajaya Edition 12 2020

MEDIA JAYA | 12 2020
Collaborations
KOLOM
n December 17th, 2020, I just knew
that there is art exhibition of Ma-
O rine Heritage Gallery in The Minis-
try of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, even-
though it had already been inaugurated
three years ago by my favorite ex-minister,
Susi Pudjiastuti. The gallery is being domi-
nated by various of ancient ceramics from
three different shipwrecks in three ocean
floors: firstly, from the Gaspar Strait in Beli-
tung, was a Chinese ceramic from the era
of Tang dynasty (9th century). Second-
ly, ceramics from Five Chinese Dynasty in
10th century, which found in the North Sea,
Cirebon. And thirdly, Chinese ceramics
from Song Dynasty (11-12th century), which
found in Buaya Island, Riau Islands.
I was mesmerized by the various of shapes,
ornaments, colors and the materials of the
ceramics. From bowls to teapots; dragon
scratches to peony flower carvings; from
grayish white to green and blue celadon;
from stonewares to porcelains. A friend
who is an archeologist from Center for Na-
tional Archeology Research once explained
to me that they once found jars in Belitung
Cargo with the word Allah written in Arabic
calligraphy on them. Those legacies from
Tang Dynasty, who led China in 9th centu-
ry, is now stored in Singapore.
On the first storey of the gallery, I was
in conversation with one of the officers.
“There are around 300,000 more ceramics,
Sir,” said the officer, leaving me stunned.
I was very astonished by the thought that
those Chinese traders had sailed across
oceans bringing mountains of ceramics,
and then sinked with them. In one of the
wreckships also found metal things that is
often found in the Java island during the
era of Hindu-Budhist.
On November 20th 2020, I was being asked
to help compile final research reports
from 2006 to 2019. I find it interesting that
they found ancient ceramics and building
structures in a district that was once the
capital of Majapahit. Alasantan inscription
which was found in Gentong Temple, tells
us about Pu Sindok, the king in 9th century
who moved the capital of Mataram king-
dom from Central Java to East Java. While
the Joko Dolok sculpture tells the story
of Kertanegara, the last king in Singasari
kingdom (13th century).’
For me, the dead ceramics found in Be-
litung, Cirebon, Riau or Trowulan by the
hand of archeologists tells about our na-
tion’s anchestors. Long before this country
was founded, when it still named as The
Archipelago, the people in it have main-
tained communication with many coun-
tries. The orientation to travel abroad was
shown in the archeological findings which
are related to the Chinese, Arabians, Per- 23
sians and Europians. They are the nations
who did collaboration with other nations to
develop the civilization of Nusantara.
Collaboration doesn’t only exist in 4.0 era
where the government should be the col-
laborators and the residents as co-cre-
ators. Collaboration is a daily necessity
that marks the human existences, espe-
cially in this COVID-19 time where it de-
stroys every thing in our lives: from health
to economy.
On December 13th, I listened to a discus-
sion from the first Indonesian woman as-
tronaut, Karlina Supelli, in the closing event
of Philofest. She revealed her worry during
this pandemic time: only 24% of school-age
children in the whole world could have ac-
cess to online learning. Then I remembered
a program of KSBB (Large Scale Social Col-
laboration) in education, which is initiated
by the provincial government of Jakarta, to
connects the donors and childrens in the
city who don’t get to have gadgets. Indeed,
COVID-19 doesn’t only bring uncertainties
and worries, but it also brings solidarity in
us. Ramdan Malik