Bumi Pemuda Rahayu (OPI) was established to explore ways to develop a sustainable lifestyle. Founder and Director Marco Kusumawijaya gives us a glimpse of how the arts, architecture and urbanism are working to solve environmental problems and support local communities.
The knowledge and creativity both play a key role in our life, although it is not clear how the two contribute directly to building a better society. But the architect and urban planner Marco Kusumawijaya, they served as the main limitation in the implementation of BPR, which he calls "a sustainable learning center."
"Knowledge is the main nutrition for our spirits. It is the basis for the creation and creativity, the above economic productivity, as well as culturally and socially, "said Kusumawijaya.
Understand the importance of sharing knowledge, both theoretical and practical, Kusumawijaya turned to the creation of OPI, an organization that combines art, architecture and urban planning in order addressing environmental issues.
At the beginning, BPR was conceptualized by three organizations working to accomplish different purposes. They are: Kunci Cultural Studies Center, which focuses on the application of cultural study approaches to understanding contemporary society; Arsitek Komunitas (ARKOM) Yogyakarta, which aims to develop models of development and practical community-centered; and Rujak Center for Urban Studies (list UCR), which helps cities progress towards ecological sustainability.
Aiming to realize the visions of these organizations altogether, Kusumawijaya - and his colleagues of Kunci, ARKOM and RCUS - based BPR in 2012, and departed to achieve ecological sustainability by developing innovative projects Muntuk village, located in the sub-district of Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta.
The village was considered an ideal place for BPR as it is not too far from Yogyakarta, a city that is known as the hub of Indonesia's creativity and contemporary art. Aside from that, the interests of the founders have been stung by the potential of the region.
"The village is a rather" difficult ": a rural semi-urban, not so fertile, with a crime and the impact of a consumer economy (waste plastic, juvenile motorcycling)" has said Kusumawijaya
.hoping to encourage the local community there, as well as to promote the message of sustainable living, OPI organized a variety of programs, which include community development (workshops and training), which aims to meet the needs of the local population. and organic farming, where they enjoy learning farming methods environmentally
in addition, OPI provides facilities like an open theater air, organic garden and accommodation for up to 50 people. the facilities built by OPI are particularly interesting because they are supplemented by structures that support ecological functions. the function room, for example, is made entirely from bamboo, a durable wood that serves as a fundamental building material in this village.
In order to develop their skills in the construction of this center, members of the local community were trained architects, landscapers, even a Japanese master who specializes in bamboo construction.
Aside from focusing on architectural and environmental aspects, BPR also takes an interest in the culture of creativity in the Muntuk village. Last year, BPR (originally hosted by RCUS) organized an event called SAM Fund for art and the environment, where they invited artists and environmental activists as writer Ayu Utami and a Dutch artist living in Indonesia Mella Jaarsma, to select as many as 361 proposals from organizations defending artistic or environmental causes.
Currently, OPI is working on their annual program residence for creative workers, where they will host two Indonesian artists for six months from August and a Taiwanese artist for two months later in September. With this residence, artists have the opportunity to work with the local community on environmental issues.
Other interesting activities include workshops teapot bamboo, puppetry with local children and video production classes with the women of the village.
Recognizing the role of the arts to the environment, Kusumawijaya believes it should not only inspire, but also adapt to the changes found in our environment. In this spirit, he stressed the artists ability to challenge the status quo. "The art itself must also change to the environment, while we also take inspiration from it," said Kusumawijaya.
But the execution of this rather multidimensional organization comes to the enormous task of maintaining sustainability. Kusumawijaya proves that financial resources play a huge role in the achievement of the organization's programs.
One of their programs has long been proposed, an environmental art festival, did not materialize due to lack of funding. And the fact that OPI has been operating in their early stages is why there is still work to do:
"We work only for three years with a budget and very limited programs, although we continue to try to develop and improve. But the way we do things, and we plan to intensify, is to engage the surrounding communities in more and more all the center's activities and decision-making. "
Regardless, OPI is thrilled because the bamboo craft has proven to attract buyers. Furthermore, they focus on improving advanced marketing plans and the organization of other workshops and seminars.
The Bamboo Craft
"We just hired a full-time manager for the place and its programming. There will workshops and seminars in late August, October, December and February next year, "revealed Kusumawijaya.
Asked what he considers the most important aspects of the implementation of BPR, Kusumawijaya mentioned "creativity, confidence, communication and tenacity." At the end of the day, it admits that they are all necessary for the management of an organization with such unconventional means to make changes.
For more information please visit www.bumipemudarahayu.org