When the paint fades in Yogyakarta’s colorful village

Fri, September 13, 2019 / 10:02 am

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The compound on the banks of the Code River from the west side after being painted in different colors. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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Colors have started to fade and peel off because of the weather. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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Two children play soccer against the background of a red wall. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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Before painting, several houses are first covered with plastic sheets. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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(Left) Painting the housing complex in April 2015. (Right) The colors have faded four years later. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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(Left) A resident paints his house in 2015. (Right) In 2019, the colors on the roofs have started to fade. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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A resident catches a chicken. JP/Boy T Harjanto
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(Right) People collectively paint the roofs of their houses on the banks of the Code River in 2015. (Left) The colors fade four years later. JP/Boy T Harjanto

Boy T Harjanto

Long before colorful villages started appearing in the country, one in particular on the banks of the Code River in Yogyakarta was already making headlines in 2015.

House roofs were painted in various colors to create a wonderful view of the village, located right under the Gondolayu Bridge in downtown Yogyakarta.

Initiated by the late renowned Catholic priest YB Mangunwijaya, the village soon attracted visitors. Some came to marvel, others took pictures with the colorful village as the background.

Unfortunately, the colors have begun to fade as the paint has weathered. With some paint peeling off and washing out, the village’s charm has started to wear off. (yun/wng)