THE ARTISTIC AND AESTHETIC INFIDELITY IN TALEMPONG PACIK PERFORMANCES IN MINANGKABAU --INDONESIA

This research explores the "infidelity" of art and aesthetics within the Talempong Pacik performance in Minangkabau as a representation of the transition from traditional values to contemporary creations. Talempong Pacik, once serving as ritual music and a companion to traditional ceremonies, has experienced substantial changes due to modernization, commercialization, and the formal establishment of arts education. This study aims to uncover how the conventional aesthetics of Talempong Pacik interact with market, tourism, and creative industry demands, leading to a disconnection between original and new values. The approach employed is a qualitative ethnographic method, incorporating participant observation, extensive interviews with artists and cultural activists, and examination of records related to Talempong Pacik performances across diverse settings (traditional, festivals, and entertainment venues). Data were examined through reduction methods, theme classification, and phenomenological analysis. The study's findings reveal a transition in aesthetic focus: from sacred, communal, and ritualistic values to entertainment, economic, and performance aesthetic values. Talempong Pacik in Minangkabau illustrates the tension between preservation and innovation, as the "infidelity" of art and aesthetics serves as a strategy to adapt and retain cultural significance in the face of globalization.