Semarang Magic
Community: The 8th Gathering - Sharing The Excitement of The 8th Asian Magic
Association Convention
Author: Silvan Prayogo, BSc., MSc. Biotech (Semarang Magic Community Captain, 2011)
Last update: 12 November 2011, Monday
Silvan Prayogo delightfully shared
the excitement of The 8th Asian Magic Association Convention to members of Semarang Magic Community during the eighth Magic Gathering. The magic gathering was
only for Semarang Magic Community members. The Gathering was on the 11th
of December 2011, Sunday, from 16:00 up to 20:00. The Gathering also discussed
strategic maneuvers after the AMA convention because Semarang Magic Community made an important
history not only as an organization but also as a nation, Indonesia.
December
2011 will be remembered by many magicians (pesulap) in Asia as the month of magic
celebration because from the 1st of December 2011 up to the 4th of December
2011, The Asian Magic Association (AMA) held its eighth magic
convention in Asia's sleepless city, Hong Kong. It was a very monumental
event as Asia chose its best magicians from various
AMA-registered Asian countries to compete in the prestigious world magic competition, FISM.
Amazing magic (sulap) shows by guest performers and
contestants proved that magic continues to develop
despite all skeptical challenges by modern technologies and deliberate attempts
to expose long-guarded magic secrets and legacies. Special events like this
shows that the art of magic is truly limited by one's dreams and imagination.
Then, it becomes a challenge for magicians to realize these fantasies. These
performers' creativity and hard work truly deserve great appreciation.
Many new
effects entertained our eyes and played with our minds such as the ability of a
magician to redo all his
routine backwards in a "rewind - video" mode, the appearing of a
stack of cakes from an empty napkin, the continuous productions of coins from
mid air, the cabaret style multiple fans production, the unlimited production
of cards from mid air, rapid color-changing balls, rapid costume
transformation, and many more.
The
convention also offered the best magic products sold by magic dealers from
various countries such as Thailand, Japan, India, People's Republic of China,
Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, etc. The atmosphere
of the magic dealer hall itself was a unique experience when several magic
dealers demonstrated their products. Loud noise of confetti / streamer
launcher, snow storm, wand / umbrella appearing from a flame, the flying
carpet, etc made the hall merrier every day. The Indonesian magic dealers were Mr.
Iwan and Mr. Fergus and Mr. Handy.
Other Indonesians in the convention were Rizuki, Mr. Togi, Mr. Paulus Didi, Mr. Pambudi Sunarsihanto, Mr. Tan Khoen Gho, and Mrs. Nanny Liem. We enjoyed the
event so much, although it was a pity that no one represented Indonesia in such an important event like this.
The guest lecturers such as Charlie Frye (the master of acrobatic magic from
USA), Juan Tamariz (the
legendary close up magician from Spain), Yuji
Yamamoto, Kenji Minemura, Hiro Sakai, and Kazu Katayama (the four mesmerizing magicians from
Japan), Tim Ellis (the creative magic story teller
from Down Under - Australia), and Timo
Marc (the expert of colorful
magic visual effect from Germany) generously shared their expertise and ideas
in magic to magicians who attended the convention.
The convention was also a great
opportunity to build new friendships from magicians with diverse background
from various countries. Joey
Yu from Hong Kong took a great effort to make sure
Silvan Prayogo find his way home from Panda Hotel, which was approximately 20
minutes walking time to the nearest MTR station. Mr. Robert Kee, Mr.Bahar,
and Mr. Kenneth Chia from Singapore who have shown great support and
enthusiasm to arrange the mini magic convention between Singapore Magic Ring 115and Semarang Magic Community. Mr. Tashiro Shigeru from Japan who apparently a family
doctor, and many many more.
At nine o'clock in the morning of
the 4th of December 2011, Silvan Prayogo carried an important mission bearing the name
of Semarang Magic Community for the great honor of Indonesian magicians. It has
been a long dream of many Indonesians, especially Indonesian magicians to have
the Red and White flag (The Indonesian Flag) printed on the attributes of AMA
and FISM (e.g. brochures, booklets, websites, etc) along with other nations'
magicians who have been represented internationally decades ago. However, no
Indonesian individual or organization has stepped forward to officially
represent the great magic talents Indonesia has to offer in the international
world.
At 10:30 a.m, Mr. John Teo, an AMA board member from Singapore, opened
the reception door that leads to the AMA General Board Meeting and FISM Asia
Societies meeting. There were approximately 12 board members in the room
including Mr. Dai Wu Qi (Chairman of Asia Magic Association,
People Republic of China), Mr.
Albert Tam (FISM Asia
Executive Board Chairman, SAR Hong Kong), and Mr.
Eric Eswin (The International
President of FISM).
It was an exciting and honorable
experience to be in the General Meeting. It became more exciting to know that Semarang Magic Community is the first magic organization from
Indonesia who took the initiative to step forward in person to apply AMA
membership. Silvan Prayogo was given an opportunity to provide a
brief introduction about magic in Indonesia and Semarang Magic Community. Mr. Dante Law fromTaiwan looked surprised to know that the
history of magic in Indonesia notes his presence in Indonesia in the 1970s.
The point of Silvan Prayogo presentation was that the initiative
action taken by Semarang Magic Community proves its seriousness to bring the
honorable image of Indonesian magicians into the international spotlight. The
initiative of Semarang Magic
Community to apply for AMA
membership is hoped to trigger all Indonesian magicians to unite and take
positive actions that will show the best of Indonesian
magic (Sulap Indonesia).
Semarang Magic Community offers great appreciation and gratefulness
for the opportunity and support by Members of the General Board meeting to
recognize and welcome our initiative and spirit to be member of AMA in honor of
Indonesian magicians. However, membership cannot be granted at the moment as
Semarang Magic Community must demonstrate its capability as a solid
organization. It is after all, a young organization with an adult mind
orientation as Mr. Cris
Castro, AMA Board Member fromthe
Philippines commented. We,
Semarang Magic Community, shall take this challenge to the best of our effort.
As our short term demonstration
of competence, Semarang Magic Community will arrange a mini magic convention
with Magic Ring 115 (Singapore) in Semarang in the early
2012. Further great events shall be arranged.
This encouraging news and
experience were shared to members of Semarang Magic Community during the eighth
magic gathering. Members were excited of this opportunity and will work their
best for Indonesia in the path for international magic arena.
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