GEDONG GANDRUNG
Inspired by brilliant works of art by the famous palace architect of Lombok and Bali a thousand years ago, Gedong Gandrung has been created by Anhar Setjadibrata, proprietor and designer of Hotel Tugu Lombok, to bring back to life romantic and mysterious, almost or already forgotten masterpieces from Indonesia’s history.
The number 17, that later became the day the young people of Indonesia finally claimed their independence from centuries of slavery and colonisation in August of 1945, was believed to be sacred since a thousand years ago. At Gedong Gandrung, there are 17 tall doors decorating the hall. This is not unrelated to the spiritual lives of the people of the Indonesian archipelago.
Garuda Jatayu is the King of Birds in the Ramayana epic who died in his battle against the giant Rahwana while trying to save Dewi Sinta who had been kidnapped by Rahwana. With his loyalty and courage, gaining his strength from the thought of Rama’s love for Sinta, Jatayu fought Rahwana till the end of his life. His spirit arose to the sky, narrating a tale of pure love between two human beings to the Gods. These statues of Garuda Jatayu decorate the giant Ramayana-inspired chandelier, dancing and basking in the light of true love.
A Hall of Love
Gedong in old Indonesian language means “hall” whereas Gandrung means “strong, passionate romantic love; an uncontainable infatuation.”
The architecture and interior of Gedong Gandrung, the wedding hall that has been created by Hotel Tugu Lombok, was inspired by the masterpieces of famous architect and renowned painter of Bali and Lombok: I Gusti Gedong (1850-1894) and I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (1862-1978).
I Gusti Gedong was commissioned by the King Raja Gde Karang Asem, the last Balinese king in Lombok. Raja Gde Karang Asem reigned till 1894, when he was deceived by the Dutch colonial government, arrested and exiled to Batavia for refusing to surrender to the colonial government. Following his exile was the destruction of his Cakranegara Palace and the death of the palace architect, I Gusti Gedong.
His work could be found in various palaces in Lombok and Bali as he worked only for the royal families. I Gusti Gedong drew his inspiration from ancient architecture of a thousand years ago in Lombok. His work had always been intricate with details and strong Balinese and Lombok characteristics. Typical themes of those eras were often incorporated, such as love stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epic.
One of the gates of this Gedong Gandrung was inspired by the work of the famous painter I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, a genius artist who was from Ubud in Bali. Two famous paintings he made in 1929, titled “Seorang kesatria sedang menghajar raksasa” (A knight defeating a giant), and “Anak tiri yang ditolong oleh burung ajaib” (The stepchild being rescued by the magic bird), can now be found in the National Museum of Vienna, donated to them by Helene Potjewyd.
