Profile Of Gunawan Maryanto, Loyal To Theater And Choosing Unpopular Roles With Meaningful Conditions

JAKARTA - Gunawan Maryanto, Garasi theater artist and actor who was born on April 10, 1976, is fully known for entering the role entrusted to him. In Indonesian films, Gunawan can still be called a new player.

He debuted through the film Rest the Words in 2016. This film shows the condition of the runaway of Wiji Thukul filled with fear in Pontianak for 8 months.

During his escape, Wiji Thukul continued to write poetry and several short stories using another pen name. Wiji Thukul's family in Solo also feels an uncomfortable life.

His role as Wiji Tukul immediately received rave reviews from film lovers. Not only appearance, his acting received a lot of praise for being able to describe how difficult it was to be a runaway in the reform era. Gunawan Maryanto was ordained as the best actor at the Usmar Ismail Awards 2017 for this role.

Through his acting in the film The Science of Fictions (Hiruk Pikuk Si Once), Gunawan Maryanto was lined up as the main male lead at the 2020 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) event.

The Science of Fictions is not only contemplative, it is also aesthetic, making 1 hour 46 minutes of The Science of Fictions like a psychedelic journey. So uplifting. Gunawan, although not the only lifeblood of Yosep Anggi Noen's universe, managed to convey all the messages that Anggi was trying to convey. Even without dialogue.

"Anggi may have his own interpretation, yes. But for me, Siman is not a character, right. He is a metaphor for something. For something that is silenced. For someone who is then thrown into a vortex that he doesn't understand. So Siman is a metaphor in poetry. So he stays," said Gunawan Maryanto in a VOI interview, on December 20, 2020.

FALL IN LOVE WITH LITERATURE

Gunawan's love for literature and the arts began with his love of literature from an early age. At the age of five, Gunawan Maryanto has absorbed many reading books. He grew up in a Javanese cultural environment full of art. Gunawan Maryanto's father is a ketoprak player.

While his grandfather was attached to puppet shows. Even so, Gunawan Maryanto had no interest in performing arts, so he watched a mime show.

"One time I was given an invitation. At that time by one of the students of ISI Jogja who was boarding at my house. An invitation to a mime show in one of the legendary performance halls in Jogja, namely Senisono."

"That's one thing I still remember now, huh. That moment. So I kind of believe it was one of the initial triggers. Because when I watched my father play ketoprak I was afraid. emotional closeness and so on. So I never finished watching my father's ketoprak. But when I watched the pantomime, I really got carried away, I see. And I still remember the details of the events. Details to this day.

Gunawan Maryanto's path to performing arts continued when he was in the 6th grade. At that age he joined the Rambutan Theater which was founded and managed by the Belgian theater director, Rudi Cores. Gunawan Maryanto spent a long time with Teater Rambutan until he was in high school. There, Gunawan Maryanto admitted that he learned a lot about the basics of modern theater.

"Then in high school I joined the theater extracurricular. From there I met many theater actors from other high schools, including Hanung Bramantyo. We were facilitated by Gentong HSA. From there we set up a theater to learn theatre for children our age, yes. His name is Sanggar Anom. From there we learn more about theater."

After high school, Gunawan Maryanto who entered the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) joined Teater Garasi. At Teater Garasi, Gunawan Maryanto has been active for 26 years. Started 1995 until today. Gunawan Maryanto really lives in Teater Garasi. Not only in terms of financial livelihood but also spiritual.

In addition to the two films above, Gunawan Maryanto has also played in the Wiro Sableng film. This time, he plays the Face of the Carrion. Now Gunawan Maryanto can only be remembered through his works. Gunawan passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2021.