'Always Traveling' exhibit by Dutch architects<\/p>\n
By Amir Sidharta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While composers and choreographers discussed the
\nissue of multiculturalism at Art Summit 1995 between Sept. 27 and
\n28, an exhibition held at the Erasmus Huis in Jakarta quietly
\naddressed the diversity of architecture in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
The problem of immigrants in Holland seems to have reached a
\nsignificant level in the last decade, Marga Kuperus and Harkolien
\nMeinsma pointed out in the introduction of the exhibition
\ncatalog.<\/p>\n
By 1990, the percentage of unemployed among immigrants was
\nhigher than among natives, resulting in a negative perception of
\nimmigrants, especially those coming from former Dutch colonies.<\/p>\n
Concerned with the worsening image of immigrants, Minister of
\nWelfare, Health and Culture Hedi d'Ancona instigated a policy to
\nprovide more opportunities to artists of foreign origins. In
\nresponse, Curaao-born architect Mike Janga got together a group
\nof colleagues with sound reputations as architects and artists in
\nthe Dutch community. Five of the 11 are of Indonesian descent.
\nThey approached the ARA Foundation to formalize their ideas.<\/p>\n
Since 1992, art historian and journalist Marga Kuperus and
\npublisher Harkolien Meinsma have combined their activities in the
\nARA Foundation, which aims to stimulate interior design and
\narchitecture. They came up with the idea of exhibiting the
\nendeavors of architects and artists originating from former Dutch
\ncolonies and now working in Holland. The 10 architects and one
\nartist hoped that such an exhibit would help their different
\nhopes to converge as well as help developers overcome their
\nhesitation in commissioning immigrant architects and artists.<\/p>\n
Entitled Altijd Op Reis (Always Traveling), the exhibit shows
\nthat the architects and artist feel their lives are still not
\nrooted in Holland, although they have lived and worked in the
\ncountry. Some have thought about returning to their countries of
\norigin. Those who have done so fail to feel at home.<\/p>\n
Roots<\/p>\n
The feeling of being without roots is not entirely negative,
\nhowever. Many of the architects feel privileged by their ability
\nto stay in the middle of two cultures, considering it a wonderful
\nopportunity to obtain knowledge from two cultural resources.<\/p>\n
\"My Indonesian background can be seen in my sense and use of
\ncolors and materials. As inspiration, I still often use the
\ngreens and the colors of the flowers of my mother's garden,\"
\nclaims Jakarta-born Djuanita Soedjono.<\/p>\n
It is clear that she is fully conscious of both her Indonesian
\nand Dutch backgrounds. Perhaps the most interesting aspect in
\nthis exhibition is that the architects place great emphasis on
\nelements that go beyond buildings. Most focus on enhancing the
\nquality of the spatial experience in their architecture. While
\nDjuanita Soedjono places great importance in colors and
\nmaterials, Bert Tjhie, another architect born in Jakarta, sees
\narchitecture as a meeting point of not only human beings, but
\nalso form, color and material. It is important to find the
\nbalance between contrasts such as serenity and movement, light
\nand darkness, small and large.<\/p>\n
\"The built environment should act as a stabilizer in a chaotic
\ncommunity,\" asserts Yogyakarta-born Ernest Kasanmoentalib.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore,\" he adds, \"not all buildings need to be lavish and
\nobtrusive. There has to be a rhythm in the impressions that are
\nexperienced by human beings.\"<\/p>\n
He continues to strive toward achieving a balance and
\ninterrelatedness in his works.<\/p>\n
Just as Mike Janga often uses poetry in his explanation of
\nplans, Indonesian-born Gerrit Kuen believes the significance of
\npoetry for architects lie in spaces. Spaces are abstract
\nentities. A space only becomes concrete because of light, or by
\ntraversing the space.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Freddy van Trikt is interested in the composition
\nand interrelation of spaces. His designs are characterized by a
\nseries of gradual transitions between various spaces.<\/p>\n
\"I am conscious that when creating the design I am moved by
\nthese things: how you organize spaces, how you experience them,
\nand how you walk across them. What kind of emotions do you feel
\nat that time. Architects need to possess a sensitivity toward a
\nthinking based on space,\" says van Trikt.<\/p>\n
Suitably, the exhibition is nicely packaged in an installation
\nwhich seems fit for constant travel, as its title suggests. The
\narchitects' works are transported ready-to-exhibit in a pair of
\npine shipping containers, hinged together and latched. The
\ndisplay is simple: Just open the latch, and the pair of cases
\nunfold to reveal the exhibition panels containing the various
\nelement of the architects' presentations. Each of the architects
\nused a variety of different visualization methods, such as plans,
\nelevations, axonometric drawings, perspectives and photographs,
\nto create a stimulating display.<\/p>\n
Informative<\/p>\n
The variety of renderings and materials used add to the
\nstrength of the exhibit. Unfortunately, only one small paper
\nmodel was included in the show, although the depth of the pine
\ncases warranted the incorporation of more three dimensional
\nobjects.<\/p>\n
Although the exhibition is filled with informative labels, it
\nis also a pity that there seems to have been no anticipation that
\nthe show would be viewed by non-Dutch speaking people.
\nSupplementary labels are only made available in Indonesian, and
\neven these are placed quite far from the display. The clip-on
\nworking lights, although somewhat large, are in tune with the
\nfeeling of transience and the travel theme.<\/p>\n
According to Marga Kuperus and Harkolien Meinsma, the project
\nhas enabled many of the architects to contemplate their
\narchitectural views and their mode of work in respect to their
\nethnic backgrounds. Interrelated elements and ideas surfaced
\nunexpectedly, giving this multicultural exhibition potential
\nbeyond an exposition acknowledging the existence of architects
\nfrom places other than the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
As the Netherlands faces the social impact of increased
\nimmigration, multiculturalism may offer solutions to the problems
\nlikely to arise with these changes. Ed Morroy's approach to
\narchitecture illustrates the potential of multiculturalism.<\/p>\n
\"I do not question that my cultural background influences my
\ndesign style. In Holland, I naturally would construct differently
\nthan I would in Suriname. The comparison between architecture
\nfrom the East and architecture from the West is not first and
\nforemost about architecture, but rather about our backgrounds and
\nour way of thinking; which is different compared to the way of
\nthinking of people who have always lived in Holland,\" he
\nexplains.<\/p>\n
The 10 architects and one artist may therefore change the way
\nof life in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
The exhibition ends Oct. 12.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/always-traveling-exhibit-by-dutch-architects-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }