Our History

The History of Pijar: From a Casual Pursuit to a Cultural Forging Movement

Pijar was not born as a foundation. Long before becoming an institution, Pijar began as a forging activity initially driven by mere curiosity and enjoyment.

It all started in late 1999 at the Sculpture Studio, Faculty of Art and Design ITB. Three students—Ibnu Pratomo, Septian Haryoga, and Feby—began experimenting with forging iron. There was no grand purpose at the time. They simply enjoyed watching raw iron change shape with every strike.

During the same period, a learning process was also taking place at the home of Wisnu, an ITB Fine Arts student from the class of 1998. With simple forging tools at his house, they began learning the fundamentals of forging self-taught.

The year 2001 marked an important milestone. Through a Drypoint workshop with Prof. Schultz, Abah learned to make his own tools. This experience rekindled his interest in the world of forging.

In 2002, when Ibnu became a teaching assistant, forging activities resumed on campus. This time, he did it alone.

Entering 2003–2004, several junior students joined in. There were Mi'ink, Ijoel, Dede', Busro, Igun, and a few others. This small group called themselves Kelompok Tangan Hitam (The Black Hand Group), a simple name that perfectly described their daily lives: hands constantly blackened by charcoal and iron.

From Self-Taught to Apprenticeship

2005 became a crucial phase in Ibnu’s learning journey. While pursuing his master's degree at ITB, Prof. Primadi Tabrani directed him to choose the keris as his research subject. This was when the previously self-taught learning process began to evolve into a more serious academic pursuit.

Ibnu then undertook the path of a cantrik—a traditional term for an apprentice—at a besalen (traditional forging workshop) in Solo.

In 2007, Ibnu once again invited his juniors to forge together. Four people joined at the time: Erick, Covie, Khrisna, and Jono. They named their group Power Arms, a playful spin on the Power Hammer. The difference was, while a Power Hammer relies on machine power, they relied on the strength of their own arms.

As with campus life dynamics, the group's membership constantly changed. Some arrived, while others left after completing their Final Projects and graduating.

Observing this pattern, Andi (ITB Fine Arts '98) suggested that this activity needed a more solid foundation. Not just a group gathering to forge, but a dedicated forging community.

The Birth of the Name Pijar

The name Pijar (Incandescence/Glow) was chosen based on a simple consideration: it is short, easy to pronounce, and memorable.

However, the name also has a direct connection to the forging process. In the creation of a pamor (pattern-welded steel), various types of metal are heated until they glow red-hot (berpijar), then forged so they bond together and form specific patterns.

From that very process, the idea of unification became part of Pijar's philosophy. It is not just about forging metals together, but also unifying the thoughts, spirit, and diversity of the people within it.

Thus, Pijar Komunitas Menempa Indonesia (Pijar Indonesian Forging Community) was born, a community with a straightforward vision: To Forge Indonesia.

The concept of this community was formulated in late 2011 and officially established in early 2012 by Ibnu, Andi, Galih, Mi'ink, Igun, and Busro.

From an activity that initially started out of pure curiosity in a sculpture studio, Pijar began to grow into a cultural forging movement.

Taking Shape: The Pioneers and the Founders

2012 marked the beginning of Pijar's journey as a community. Its debut took place at the ITB Cultural Week. On that occasion, Ibnu invited Opik, a first-year student (TPB) of ITB Fine Arts, to join.

Opik then brought along two of his friends, Samuel and Fernando. These three became known as the Founding Generation (Angkatan Pendiri). Meanwhile, the six individuals who originally formulated Pijar were recognized as the Pioneer Generation (Angkatan Perintis).

This Founding Generation had its own unique nickname: Angkatan de' Palaur. They were serious kids, yet their antics were often absurd. That contradiction became their defining trait.

Since then, Pijar has experienced its ups and downs. Members came and went. Amidst these changes, Pijar continued to search for its true form as a community, including formulating activities that could be run together.

2016: The Roots of the Curriculum

In 2016, Ibnu attended an introductory bladesmithing class in Belgium. The class was a collaboration between the American Bladesmith Society and La Forge de' Ostiches.

Returning from Belgium, Ibnu, along with Onel, his colleague from the Indonesian Blades community, started devising a simple curriculum for blacksmithing. This effort eventually became the foundation for the curriculum used by Pijar in 2026.

Forging Through Difficult Times and Becoming a Foundation

In 2020, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Pijar ran the "Forging on the Road" program with the slogan, Forge The Nation, Not Just The Iron.

For the first time, Pijar organized a forging activity on a mountain, assisted by the Gibbons nature enthusiast group.

Two years later, in 2022, Pijar officially transformed into a foundation. However, this organizational shift did not immediately end its search for identity. Pijar continued to explore ways to ensure its activities and organizational direction remained aligned with the spirit of culture and the preservation of forging.

Collaborations were continuously forged with various parties, ranging from individuals and government agencies to other communities. These activities took various forms, such as exhibitions, forging demonstrations, and open classes.

Entering 2026, Pijar once again stepped into a new phase. This time, the focus is on maturing the curriculum and preparing classes with a more comprehensive learning system.

Pijar's journey began as a casual pastime at the Sculpture Studio in late 1999. More than two decades later, the same spirit lives on, now channeled through a foundation and the effort to build a more structured forging education system.