Art Conservation for the Classical Masks at Sonobudoyo Museum, Yogyakarta

I Wayan Dana

doi:10.24821/jousa.v8i1.4629

Abstract

Sonobudoyo Museum Yogyakarta is the complete museum after the National Museum in Jakarta. There are many art collections in the museum, including bronze statues, gold statues, various ceramics, leather puppets, batik, bamboo works of art, furniture, and various Indonesian mask characters. The masks are treated and displayed in a particular place so that they can last hundreds of years and be seen until now. The research was aimed at how art conservation was carried out for these masks and at a particular strategy in maintaining, protecting, and caring for them. Therefore, it is interesting to study and understand the art of conservation for classical masks at the Sonobudoyo Museum, Yogyakarta. The research results showed that the knowledge of caring for, maintaining, protecting the masks as objects of art collections and cultural products with aesthetic, artistic, and historical values can still be known by the public and the generations. Moreover, the art conservation is also essential to know, not only by conservators but also by the broader community, to preserve and develop classical masks in the archipelago.

Highlights

Sonobudoyo Yogyakarta State Museum has a long history, from once a colonial museum to a state museum
Conservation of arts includes mapping the development of conservation of art objects and other cultural products that need to be described in managing them in museums, especially aspects of protection, development, and use for the benefit of the wider community
Keraton Kasultanan Yogyakarta becomes the center of civilization, the square is the public space for community, Beringharjo market is the center of economic movement, and the Grand Mosque is the foundation of spiritual life (Tsani, 2018: 65-67)

Summary

Introduction

Sonobudoyo Yogyakarta State Museum has a long history, from once a colonial museum to a state museum. The collection outside the museum building consists of objects made of relatively weather-resistant materials such as temples, statues – including those made of stones – and other temple decorations. Collections displayed in the room include various glass paintings, puppets, bronze statues, gold sculptures, wooden handicrafts, building art and furniture, batik, woven products, and classical Javanese and Balinese masks. Of the many art collections at Sonobudoyo Museum in Yogyakarta, what is interesting to study on this occasion is the conservation of classical mask art. It is undoubtedly new knowledge because these masks reflect various human and animal characters. Why does Sonobudoyo Museum store and collect works or objects of mask art from Yogyakarta, East Java, Central Java, West Java, and Bali? Based on the brief outlined above, the problem formulation can be presented: What is the art conservation strategy, especially the treatment of classical masks at Sonobudoyo Museum, Yogyakarta? Are there any specific means or media used in the conservation of classical mask art at the Sonobudoyo Yogyakarta Museum? Why does Sonobudoyo Museum store and collect works or objects of mask art from Yogyakarta, East Java, Central Java, West Java, and Bali?

Discussion

Conclusions