Punk rock is a graceful way of saying no to the establishment, and Wok the Rock, aYogyakarta-based punk rocker, is trying his best to collect punk memories and knit them together.
In Indonesia, punk has been around for two decades and has invigorated the subcultures of Indonesian youth. The freedom of speech, the open mindedness and the raw spirit of independence are a few examples of punk’s positive elements.
Now is an appropriate time to look back and observe what has been done. Wok the Rock knows this well and initiated the creation of a book called Untukmu Generasiku (To My Generation). He compiled pictures that he collected over 20 years together with some of his writing.
Untukmu Generasiku will be the first published account of the way local punks worked together to adapt punk subculture into their own, Indonesian, movement.
“Punk in Indonesia is doing well. The adaptation and acculturation processes are good. Yes, [punk rock] was imported from the West, but the social and political situations are different. Those two elements have significantly influenced the process,” Wok the Rock said.
“That’s why you see Begundal Lowokwaru from Malang name Iwan Fals their musical influence, or Marjinal from Jakarta who uses Benyamin Sueb’s style in telling political stories or Yogyakarta’s Laga Baram, who adapted Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s Arus Balik as a reference for their criticisms of nationalism,” he said, referring to local icons in their respective fields. Iwan Fals is a singer-songwriter, Benyamin a comedian and Pramoedya a novelist.
But, there are many other examples of Indonesian punk rock’s uniqueness compared to the UK – where punk has its roots.
“We have so many distortions in the way we adapted punk. But, those distortions turned out good for the character of Indonesian punk. We write very messy and broken English lyrics and we have gotong royong culture, which would never be established in the West. Also, some of our wives wear the hijab every day,” Wok the Rock said, pointing out examples of Indonesian punk’s adaptations.
But, the enculturation process did not only occur with ways of thinking and living one’s daily life. Punk rock has also enlivened many other kinds of youth subculture.
“The DIY spirit indirectly opened the gate to other subcultures, like movements for independent film or music or even alternative art spaces. Those were all triggered by punk,” said Wok the Rock, who is an active member of the Yogyakarta art collective Mes 56.
After discussing his master plan for Untukmu Generasiku, Wok the Rock said the work also had personal meaning for him.
“This book will be dedicated to the next generation of punks, so they can learn from the past and move forward,” he said.
In a way his actions are an example of the way punk has evolved in Indonesia. The title for Untukmu Generasiku was taken from an Elpamas song from the album Dinding-Dinding Kota.
Elpamas is a legendary country rock band from the early 90s. They were famous back in the day, and have no connection to punk music.
For more information, go to www.untukmugenerasiku.mes56.org
