RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The legacy of R.A. Kartini continues to thrive in diverse forms, most notably through the cultural preservation efforts of Mulyani, a traditional bundengan artist from Wonosobo, Central Java.

Mulyani shared that her dedication to bundengan was born out of a profound concern for the instrument's survival. Basically, a bundengan is created from a kowangan, a large shield-shaped frame with a triangular form that covers a duck herder’s back from head to hip, whether the sun shines brightly or it rains.

The duck herder called sontoloyo wears kowangan when he herds his duck in the rice field. While waiting for his ducks to eat in the rice field, the sontoloyo plays the bundengan. He attaches three bamboo strings, tying them across the frame of the bundengan from the left side to the right. The strings are then plucked, producing sound.

By 2015, the traditional musical tool was virtually unknown to the younger generation. This realization drove her to master the craft and unlock her own potential to revive the art form.

"As a woman seeking to absorb the positive energy and spirit of Ibu Kartini, I manifest it by learning the bundengan," she remarked during the talk show Women Dream, Women Inspire at the R.A. Kartini Museum in Jepara, Central Java, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

Over time, her perseverance has yielded significant results, granting her the opportunity to introduce bundengan to the international stage. Her travels included performances in Sydney and Melbourne between 2015 and 2018, as well as a showcase in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2023.

Furthermore, she contributed to the film Empu, where the bundengan and traditional masks were featured as central props. Her involvement in the production earned her a nomination at a prestigious film festival in Berlin.

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With remarkable courage, Mulyani has often taken the bundengan abroad to perform in public spaces as a bold statement of pride in Indonesian culture. For her, these performances are a tangible expression of her love for tradition.

"I am an Indonesian woman who must be proud of our traditions. I don't mind [the attention], I just keep playing," she said.

Beyond her life as an artist, Mulyani has spent over 30 years as an educator for children with disabilities. Preferring the term "special children," she consistently encourages them to express themselves through the arts.

She noted that guiding these children to perform on various stages, including at Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park (TMII), brings her immense personal fulfillment.

She emphasized that her lifelong service through art and education is her way of embodying the role of a "modern-day Kartini." "This is how I continue to be meaningful to others," she said.

The mission to carry forward Kartini’s struggle within the art world is also shared by Clara Bianpone, the curator of Indonesian Women Artist (IWA) #4. She pointed out that historical art narratives have frequently sidelined the contributions of female creators.

"The documentation of Indonesian art history has somewhat marginalized the stories of women. Some have even claimed there were no female artists," Clara told reporters following the exhibition Indonesian Women Artist #4: On the Map at the National Gallery of Indonesia, Central Java, on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

She noted that such misconceptions were dismantled when the curatorial team gathered dozens of high-quality works by women for display. In its inaugural edition, IWA featured 34 female artists across generations under the theme The Curtain Opens. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA)