ilsatari's "kontemplasi"

"berpijak ku bumi
bertongkat ku langit..."

went to the concert at ucc at 2.30pm, with ratna, mardiana, amin, suhaila and melissa. t'was a good concert, if not for the fact that it was so confusing. we had to get abang osman down beside to explain the meaning of the dance. the dance basically representated abang man's interpretation of the malay society now. cliche i know, but i shall touch on that later.

"berpijak ku bumi, bertongkat ku langit" actually is a rephrasing of the malay idiom, "di mana bumi kupijak, di situ langit ku junjung" which means that where you go or live, you should adapt to the ways and needs and demands of the environment there. it bears various meanings and connotations.

firstly, it symbolised the powerlessness of the malay society, then and now, in running its own affairs; despite the control that has supposedly be given, and the voice of authority, in effect, we are still subtly being oppressed and our voice subverted by the greater powers at play.

secondly, it states the need of the malay community to utilise the current trends and developments to grow and develop itself to be a significant society - a society that is not backward, a society that contributes, a society that has an audible voice. for that, the malays need to be aware and not lulled by their own cultures and traditional ways, breaking free from inhibitory perceptions and self-contented mannerisms.

that i got from abang osman's explanations.

this, from taufiq.

that the malays should aim for greater heights, now reaching beyond the heavens, and the heavens are merely supports to reaching that vision.

well to each his own.

to me, it is all a matter of your own contemplation how you view your situation, hence the theme of the dance. the malay society being trapped, being oppressed and needing to make themselves heard are all passe and cliched to me. being a person of the arts has left me rather numb to the statement that the malay society is not progressing. which was why i found the dance to be rather confusing rather than provoking. yes i enjoyed the technique, but i guess abang osman's genius did not shine through this time round. but to each his own :)

more importantly to me, was the sharing of an enjoyable experience with very good friends, and the gathering of fellow appreciants of the arts. and of course, most importantly, the reconciliation of two old friends, to whom i would like to express my congratulations, and my prayers that all will be well from now on.