T

he RW 03 neighborhood in Centex, East Jakarta, is one of the many neighborhoods in the capital featuring a small cemetery near the residents' houses.

However, on Saturday, the neighborhood's atmosphere was far from gloomy despite the hovering clouds and a brief drizzle earlier. The area was brightened by the colorful murals decorating the limited space on its narrow streets.

The bright graphic artworks were part of the third anniversary of Atap Alis, a workshop of eight artists who, over the years, have shared their skills in drawing and crafting with children in the neighborhood, as well as polishing their own abilities.

"We started out as a graphic arts collective, then on our first anniversary the children we invited to our gathering expressed their interests in drawing, so we started giving workshops," Alfa Yudha, one of the workshop's teachers, said.

One of the murals, a 5x6 meter work, depicted a gleeful picture of a grinning boy on a bicycle. The writing reads "Kampung Sehat" (Healthy Kampong).

"Murals are moving to kampungs like this now because overpasses and walls in the city have been taken over by advertising companies," Ebol, the artist behind the mural, said.

He said he was inspired by the boisterous and curious nature of the children, after he taught them woodcutting during a one-week workshop organized by Atap Alis.

Saturday's celebration also included acoustic musical performances, theater, movie screenings and a one-week drawing, woodcutting and recycling workshop.

Children from the workshop and the nearby 05 Elementary School also participated in the celebration with dancing, poetry recitals and gambus (percussion) performances.

Komala Widyaningsih, a teacher from the elementary school, said Dodi, a tattooed, dreadlocked members of Atap Alis, had come directly to the school to invite the children.

"At first he seemed scary, but that was just the impression he gave."

Alfa said public perception of the artists had improved over the years. "Some parents used to warn their children against coming to our workshop, but the children proved through their creativity that they have learned things from us."

Asep, who teaches extracurricular activities at the elementary school, said the event provided a chance for students to improve their performance.