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Independence through the eyes of contemporary artists
Daily and Bung Hatta by Chusin SetiadikaraTo celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indonesiaâs independence, a group of contemporary artists is inviting the public to take a deeper look into the countryâs history
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Daily and Bung Hatta by Chusin Setiadikara
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indonesia's independence, a group of contemporary artists is inviting the public to take a deeper look into the country's history.
At the exhibition, entitled 'Langkah Kepalang Dekolonisasi' (Insufficient Steps of Decolonization), 36 artists bring back historic moments from the 1946 to 1949 era through their artworks at the National Gallery, Central Jakarta.
The artists include Abdi Setiawan, Agung Mangu Putra, Entang Wiharso, Heri Dono, Rosid, Suraji, JA Pramuhendra, Michael Binuko, Radi Arwinda and Zico Albaiquni.
Jim Supangkat, the curator, said the exhibition aimed to give Indonesia's history a bigger room in the society.
'Politics have become public domain; it becomes everybody's problem now. But has our history become public domain too? I don't think so,' said Jim.
He added that the exhibition, which runs until Aug. 30 at the National Gallery before continuing to the Canna Gallery in the Kelapa Gading area in North Jakarta until Sept. 12, was also designed to give history another meaning beyond the artifacts that often became symbols of the past.
Jim said the works on display reflected the relationship between Indonesia and the world, seeking the roles of the archipelago on the global stage, especially after the World War II when many countries in Asia, including Indonesia, were undergoing decolonization.
'In addition to looking at our history, the exhibition also shows the role of Indonesia in the world's history,' he said.
One of the highlights of the exhibition was two paintings by Agung Mangu Putra about events that took place after the Renville Agreement between the Netherlands, which was seeking to re-establish a colony in Southeast Asia, and Indonesia, which was seeking to secure Indonesian independence during the Indonesian National Revolution.
Using oil on canvas, Mangu tried to replicate the photo of Sultan Hamid II, the designer of the
Indonesian
emblem, Garuda Indonesia, and the leader of the Federal Consultative Assembly (BFO), who was having a dialogue with the High Commissioner of the Crown in the Dutch East Indies Louis Beel in Jakarta in 1949.
'Instinctively, the artist could perfectly capture the characters of the two that were not shown in the photo. The painter applies the lighting effects technique, bringing out the gesture of the object,' Jim said.
Next to it is another Mangu 200-by-125-centimeter painting of Sultan Hamid II conversing with Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung, the former Indonesian foreign minister during the Sukarno presidency.
Another highlight is the work by Rosid that features portraits of Indonesia's national heroes and heroines, including Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta, Cipto Mangunkusumo, Agus Salim and RA Kartini, that were made on a traditional wooden door.
'What's special from his work is that we see master painter Sudjojono in between those national heroes, emphasizing the importance of art in our history of independence,' Jim said.
The three-panel painting by Tatang Ramadhan Bouqie, entitled Careless Comedy-The Colonial Fantasy, also steals visitors' attention, not just because of its size but also by its striking colors and the message the artist is trying to convey.
Jim said the detail of the 200-by-800-centimeter painting showcased the messy journey of the country from the colonial era until the present day.
'Despite the chaos in the detail, the artist tries to think positive by adding some humor to it and coloring his painting brightly, so that it won't make us frustrated,' he said.
Apart from the works curated by Jim, 'Langkah Kepalang Dekolonisasi' also presents a mini exhibition that features works by emerging young artists, curated by Donny Ahmad.
Donny said some artists decided to retell stories of events in the past, while some others borrowed symbols of the past to accompany their personal interpretation of independence.
Angga A. Atmadilaga, Sigit Ramadhan, Mirfak Prabowo and Rega Rahman work on the theme about the military and aggression, while Patriot Mukmin, M. Jabbar and Riar Rizaldi feature prominent figures who were involved in negotiations over the existence of Indonesia.
The National Gallery chairman Tubagus Andre Sukmana said the exhibition was expected to be able to bridge historical times and the modern day.
'Artists were greatly involved in the struggle for independence, like Affandi and Sudjojono, and this exhibition gathers
senior and younger artists to remember that struggle to commemorate our independence,' he said.
' Photos by JP/Don
