Welcome to Another Asia -- in Jakarta

Emmy Fitri ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 07/20/2008 10:38 AM  |  Arts & Design

What is it about pictures that speak a thousand words? Beauty, neat presentation and a breathtakingly flawless scenic panorama is apparently never enough.

The old adage of beauty being in the eye of the beholder is a fair summation of the "Another Asia" exhibition, because not everyone will find beauty here. The treasured beauty of the photos, however, is in the context and the idea behind the images, or the subtle common thread linking series of photos.

So although the superficial beauty of a photo is to be admired, what really matters is the intriguing hidden, intended message, which must be explored from the composition, lighting and object selection, as well as the relevance of these technical aspects with other issues close to the photographers' hearts.

Jan Banning's photo series "Bureaucratics", for instance, is a set of stills of officials sitting gracefully at their desks. At first glance, the poses look contrived and are far from attractive. But look much closer at each photo -- one by one -- and the gems of the whole package jump out: precious truth and irony.

The award-winning 54-year-old has successfully imprinted a striking message in the photos: the officials are typically ensconced at their large desks, alienated from the people they are meant to serve.

The "Bureaucratics" series will be published in a book of the same name, which will offer a look into the cultures and symbols of civil service offices in 10 countries.

Banning won first prize in the World Press Photo's Portrait Series category for the India section of "Bureaucratics".

His works are part of 162 images from 21 photographers, selected from a short list of 700 works previously displayed at the Noordelicht photo exhibition in Leuwarden, the Netherlands, in September 2006. Wim Melis was the curator for this exhibition.

The photo exhibition was brought to Jakarta by Teater Utan Kayu.

"For the record, I am not the curator of this exhibition, because these photos were curated earlier and my task is only to select photos to suit a Jakarta audience," said Alex Supartono, a lecturer at the Jakarta Arts Institute.

He said it was not easy to select works to be exhibited in Jakarta because he wanted to present the "wholeness" of South Asia and Southeast Asia. He also had the photos displayed without frames.

"I wanted to see if the 'frames' made by the photographers when they took the shots would be enough," he said.

In this virtually globalized age, self-identity has become a gem that an individual, a tribe, an ethnic group and a nation must strive to keep, he said, adding such efforts helped preserve ancient legacies.

The theme "Another Asia" suggests a side of the continent alien to what we know from daily life, television, newspapers or the Internet. But most of all, we see lives, previously hidden, brought to light through the lenses of the photographers.

The exhibition was opened Friday by Marco Kusumawijaya from the Jakarta Arts Council. Marco said he was enthralled when entering the venue, GoetheHaus, because the photos brought him images he never imagined before.

"The photos show us pictures of unfinished Asia. Asia that is evolving from past to present and perhaps to future. Asia which is undergoing modernization but still very much attached to its roots," he said.

"This kind of exhibition is a good opportunity for Asians to see our neighbors, because above all else, Asians come from the same root but grow as different trees."

With that said, welcome to "Another Asia" in Jakarta.

Another Asia
Photo Exhibition
July 18 - August 18
GoetheHaus Gallery
Jl. Sam Ratulangi 9-15
Central Jakarta

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