BIOGRAPHY: SUPRAPTO SURYODARMO

 

Since 1970, Suprapto Suryodarmo has studied free movement, Vipasana and Sumarah (Javanese meditation techniques). In 1974 he was initiated into the Theravadin order of Buddhism and created Wayang Buddha (The Buddha's Puppet). The main intention of his work continued as an exploration of how to make less of identification through the practice of
movement arts. In 1986, Suprapto established his own school called Padepokan Lemah Putih, centered in his uniquely landscaped garden, Mojosongo, on the outskirts of Solo, Java.

 

Suryodarmo initiated 'Sharing Movement' circulation in Europe, America, Asia and Australia and Web Art Garden, a world-wide network of artists and presenting organizations.  He also served as a delegation artist in the Asia Europe Meeting II in London, UK in 1998 and 2004 International Shamanism Art Festival in Seoul, South Korea.

 
Suryodarmo currently serves as a Founding Member and Chairperson of the Board for Dharma Nature Time - an international co-operative foundation; Founding Member for Yayasan (Foundation) Teja Samudragiri in support of Art, Temple, Garden in Tejakula, North Bali and Yayasan Dharma Samuan Tiga in support of Art and Religiosity programs in Bedulu, Bali.  He continues to present workshops and performances in Europe, Australia, The Philippines, Japan, and recently in the U.S.A, Mexico and India.

Date/Place of Birth: Surakarta/02 February 1945
Mailing Address: c/o Padepokan Lemah Putih, P.O. Box 301, SOLO - Jawa Tengah - Indonesia
Telephone:  ++62 271 850 3050
Email: amerta@lemahputih.com

Artistic Development (Partial List)
1967

Began to study the arts, including painting, photography, music and various forms of movement.   
  
1970

Started to practice movement with the approach of exploring like a child, developing all his abilities. Practicing in any condition of time and space in nature, temples, exploring the qualities of freedom and limitation.   
  
1971

Began to create improvisation performances, solo and in collaboration with musicians, painters, and sculptors in nature, temples and art centers. This work continues until the present.   
  
1975

"Wayang Budha" performances. Finds a quality in which to study the conditions of change through movement. First of an annual series of performances, at Mendut Temple to celebrate Waisak, Buddha's birthday.   
  
1976

"Ruwatan Kunjarakarna" - performance - a Buddhist story of purification at the Surakarta Art Centre.   
  
1978

"Pekan Penata Tari Muda" - performance. Indonesian Youth Festival of Dance in Jakarta.   
1982

Annual workshop program in Europe. Giving movement practice in Germany Switzerland, Denmark and the U.K.   
  
1986

Sets up movement school Padepokan Lemah Putih   
  
1991

New mantra challenging the traditional approach. "Liberates" (reconstructs) the form of the Javanese alphabet.

 

"The Dialogue of the Sun", collaboration with Japan, sponsored by the Japan Foundation - Jakarta.   
  
1992

"Tempest in Borobudur" collaboration Japanese Butoh Dance Company Paradix K, Katsura Kan, and Surakarta.   
 

"Sarasehan Solah Bawa" - approaching a new form of ritual art Surakarta.   
 

"Umbul Donga Kembang Srengenge", ritual for the well known Indonesian master painter, Affandi, 1.000 days after his death.   
  
1993

Initiated Sharing Time, 1st International Gathering for Sharing Movement Circulation.   
"Cultural profile - Suprapto Suryodarmo" - Yogyakarta Television Station.   
  
"Pasar Cipta Seni Ritual" Co-facilitated Ritual Art Festival Surakarta.
  
1993

"White Bone" - performance at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the USA.   
  
1994

"Nur Gora Rupa" Festival.  Steering Committee   
  
"Awang Uwung I" - performance in the "Nur Gora Rupa" festival Surakarta with Slamet Abdul Syukur & Teguh Ostenrik   
  
1995

"Human" - performance - Surakarta,  collaboration with Ria Higler -The Netherlands   
  
Sharing Time 1995 - Surakarta Theme : "Ritual Art and Cultural Environment"
organizer Suprapto Suryodarmo & his school Padepokan Lemah Putih.   
  
"Umbul Donga Besalen" - collaboration with UK.   
  
1996

"Blossoming in Europe" - European Program.

A mandala journey from seven points in Europe, The purpose is to create an exchange of goodness from any place and cultural background, to discover a new view of human growing in the process of the human art culture.   
  
"Amerta Movement Program in Indonesia". Annual Practice in Padepokan Lemah Putih,
Candi Sukuh, Prambanan, Borobudur, Wonogiri (Central Java); Parangtritis (Yogyakarta); Bandung (W. Java); Surabaya & Seloliman (E. Java); and in Samuan Tiga (Bedulu-South Bali) and Tejakula (N. Bali)   
  
"Sesaji Kalimas" - ritual - Surabaya Arts Festival.   
  
"Mandala Ibu Pertiwi" - ritual - Mendut Temple.   
  
1997

International Movement Arts Teachers Society. One month Meeting in Surakarta and regional sites. Co-facilitators Suprapto Suryodarmo - Padepokan Lemah Putih Ria Higler - School for New Dance Development, the Netherlands.   
  
"Ki Ki So So" - Collaboration with Barbara Dilley, Diane Butler,  Gamelan Tunas Mekar at Naropa University USA.   
  
Sharing Time 1997 - in UK. Theme : "Nature Movement Art"   
  
"Fire Sounding" - ritual, collaboration with Red Earth UK.   
  
"Flying Dream" - performance. Collaboration with Margarita Playoust  - Sydney, Australia.   
1998

Initiate "Web Art Garden" worldwide, for annual activities on Environment Day, 5th June, from the approach of ritual art. First Facilitator Sandra Reeve, Delegation Artist for ASEAN-Europe Meeting II in London.   
  
1999

Create choreography "The Sounds of Ancestors" - In Festival of Art and Ghost - Berlin.
Collaboration with Makassar dancers and musicians.   
  
Sharing Time III in Tejakula - North Bali.

 
Create "Ritual Gong Kalahayu"  in the Sacred Rhythm Festival in Samuan Tiga - Bali,
passing the 2nd millennium to the third millennium.   
  
2000

Offering Gong to Samuan Tiga Temple. Collaboration with Dr. I Wayan Dibia-STSI Denpasar, Makassar artists, Solonese artists, and Balinese artists.   
  
Co-initiated "Artists Congress RONG Collaboration Asia-Europe in Art & Environment" In Tejakula, North Bali Heike Gaessler & Charlotte Breinersdorf (Kulturnomaden Berlin) and Iswanto Hartono - Universitas Tarumanagara Indonesia.   
  
2001

Collaboration ritual making Gong "Surabaya Gung" in Tugu Pahlawan - Surabaya. With master gong maker Bp. Tentrem - from Solo, in the Surabaya Art Festival.   
  
"Umbul Donga Besalen" in Rawa Pening. Collaboration with Dedek Wahyudi and Mangku Kebyar from Samuan Tiga Temple, also pamangku from Pura Segara - Sukaluwih. The gong named "Nyai Rawa Asih", with master gongmaker Bp.Tentrem from Solo.   
  
"Art Human Nature" Commonweal Center, California, with guests Anna Halprin, Barbara Dilley, Simone Forti and 25 movement artists from US, UK, Europe & Australia organized by Dharma Nature Time.   
  
"Celebration Ethnic Art in Time" Xochicalco Temple, Mexico. Organized by Geo Legoretta - Shaktala   
  
2001

"Infinite Humanity: The World Religions & Art for Peace & Respect of Life".
Collaboration with Dharma Nature Time Foundation; Father Mizzi -Centro
Francescanoÿ Internazionale per il Dialogo (Assisi); Yuko Nii
-Williamsburg Art & Historical Center (New York); Bawa Jain/Dena Merriam
-Millennium World Peace Summit (UN); Museum of World Religions (Taiwan)
gathering with many artists from Europe, USA, Asia, Indonesia opening 21
December United Nations Prayer Room followed by ritual at the WTC.   

2002

"Umbul Donga Besalen" in Padepokan Lemah Putih,
in "Srawung Seni Jejer Desa". Collaboration with Gamelan Lesung from
Bonoroto village, Irawati Kusumorasri & Cempluk (dancers), Pandhita Budha
Dharmo Suryo, Sumardi (Shaman), Galih Nagasena & Ilham (music).
Creating the gong named "Nyai Angon Sari", with master of gongmaker Bp.
Tentrem from Solo.   
  
2003

From the idea: from the earth back to the earth. Choreography "Ritual Kalayoni" - the time of female - Mandala Wisata, Bedulu Bali, Sharing Art & Religiosity III   
  
Choreography "The Disposable Body". Collaboration Ann Wizer (costume & installation), Diane Butler (dancer), Dedhy and Elly Luthan (dancers), Marzuki Hasan (singer Aceh), Girly Ciliwung (music), Jaifar (composer), and Imam Bucah (painters). Galeri Lontar At Teater Untan Kayu in Jakarta.   
  
2004

"Kidung Dumadi" performance Taman Budaya Jawateng, Solo   
  
"Nalika ning Sumeleh" Collaboration Hendrawan Riyanto (ceramic installator)  - At Bentara Budaya Jakarta.   
  
Co-initiator for the creation of "Barong Pa-Hayu Buana" - The World Peace Barong in Pasamuan Seni & Ketuhanan IV, Samuan Tiga - Bali.   
  
Supervisor choreography "Tri Yoni Saraswati"- with Barong Pa-Hayu Buana - World Peace Barong performance at the Parliament of World's Religions Barcelona. Collaboration Padepokan Lemah Putih, Surakarta Palace, Dharma Samuantiga-Bedulu, Sanggar Nurlina-Makassar.   
  
Collaboration improvisation for ritual "Sumeleh" in Selasar Sunaryo - Bandung, West Java
Collaboration Padepokan Lemah Putih, artists from USA, Germany, France, Bandung & Institut Teknologi Bandung.   
  
Presenter International Shamanism Art Festival - Seoul S. Korea   
  
2005

Co-Initiator First Annual `Festival Seni Pasar Kumandang' - with 15 traditional Solo markets & Mataya Productions.   
  
Co-Initiator First Annual "Festival Wayang Indonesia" 2005. At Pura Mangkunegaran, Solo Central Java - with Mataya Productions & Central Java Culture & Tourism.   
  
Co-Initiator "World Meditation Gathering" 9 - 13 April 2006, in Solo and surrounding locale With Mataya Productions, Central Java Culture & Tourism, and Dharma Nature Time.   
Co-Initiator First Annual "Festival Seni Panji" Trawas 2006 , East Java.
With Suryo Prawiroatmodjo -Ecologist, Founder PPLH Seloliman
Lydia Kieven - Scholar ancient Javanese arts, K"ln-Germany  

Organisations    
 
1966

"Barada" - Surakarta. Village organization for development of Sport & Art.   
  
1969

"Focus" - Photo Club, Surakarta. Initiated Surakarta Arts Council   
  
1972-1975

Secretary of Pusat Kebudayaan Cultural Center - Central Java. Indonesian Government Project.   
  
1978-1983

Deputy to Chief of ASKI Surakarta -Akademi Seni Karawitan Indonesia (Academy of Arts & Traditional Music).   
  
1986-now

Founder, Padepokan Lemah Putih, Mojosongo, Surakarta.   
  
1997

Initiated Twinning Arts Center. Project - Wales & Java.   
  
1999-now

Lemah Putih with Regional Directorates of Culture & Tourism, university & cultural associations in `Grebeg Lawu' at Candi Sukuh, `Swarung Seni, Tanah  & Air' in Bandung-W. Java, `Swarung Seni & Lingkungan Hidup' at Seloliman, E. Java, `Swarung Seni & Sunya' at Taman Mandala Salam, Mendut-Central Java etc.   
  
2000-now

Founding Board Member & Advisory Council Yayasan Dharma Samuan Tiga in Bedulu, Bali   
Founding Board Member Yayasan Teja Samudragiri - in support of Art Temple Garden in Tejakula, N. Bali.   
  
Founding Board Member and Chairperson Dharma Nature Time a co-operative international foundation.