The Heartbreaking first Bali bombings on October 12, 2002, tarnished the global reputation of Indonesia as a safe destination, crippled Bali’s important tourism sector and severely eroded Lombok tourism.
Lombok’s key tourism areas, such as Senggigi, were suddenly devoid of visitors and companies operating hotels, restaurants and travel agencies were forced to lay off workers.
Business ground to a halt, impacting on Lombok’s traditional weavers of Sukarara village, the pottery producers of Banyumulek and the industrious cukli craftsmen of Sayang-Sayang village in Mataram who produce furniture and other items intricately inlaid with pieces of shell such as kerang and mother-of-pearl.
In many cases, craft production ceased and artisans were forced seek work in the fields, as motorcycle taxi drivers or as porters in local markets.
Before the 2002 Bali bombings, said Suhaili, almost 80 percent of residents around Sayang-Sayang were professionally engaged in making cukli handicrafts such as carved tables, chairs, doors, traditional timber windows and masks inlaid with shell.
After the tragedy, which left 202 people dead and shocked the world, only a handful of cukli artisans continued their work.
Now, with the revitalisation of Lombok’s domestic and international tourism business, cukli craftsmen at Sayang-Sayang are again busy producing their distinctive products.
While business is not as brisk as before the downturn, said Suhaili, buyers are crowding into the Sayang-Sayang art market (pasar seni).
Suhaili, who has worked with cukli since 1998, was loyal to his craft during the extended slump and diligently operated alone to produce cukli craft which he was forced to sell at low prices.
“The important thing was to get some capital back to put meals on the table,” he recalled.
After the Mataram city council established the Sayang-Sayang art market in Cakranegara, he rented a market stall for Rp540,000 a year.
His business is growing as Lombok gains a reputation as a tourist destination and visitor spending increases the buying power of the local market. He also is exporting to Spain and Australia.
Export orders can fill three commercial trucks, he says, without revealing the value of the goods. “What is clear is that the price is pretty big,” he laughed.
Suhaili says traditional crafts such as cukli were often taught by parents who had learned the skills from their ancestors.
“Lombok cukli artisans initially only made objects such as the carved doors, ornately inlaid with pieces of shell, which can be found in many ancient buildings on the island, and small wooden items such as masks, lizards and jewellery boxes,” he explained.
Nowadays, cukli craftsmen also make a broader range of interior and exterior furniture and fittings for homes and businesses such as hotels.
Due to limited supplies of shell, however, this essential raw material is sourced from Sulawesi, Ambon in Maluka province and Flores in East Nusa Tenggara.
The craft of cukli is distinctive to Lombok and items, said Suhaili, are priced from Rp10,000 to Rp8.5 million.
source:www.enchanting-lomboksumbawa.com
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