Herve Dangla holding 2nd photo expo on Jakarta<\/p>\n
By Yenni Kwok<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In Herve Dangla's eyes, Jakarta is a belantara,
\nan "organized" forest where the extremes coexist. However,
\ndespite the existence of the extremes, such as extreme human
\ncharacters or unusual styles of architecture, Jakarta is still
\nfar from being a wild jungle. In Dangla's opinion, it still has
\nsome order and organization.<\/p>\n
With that philosophy, Dangla has chosen the name Belantara
\nJakarta for his photography exhibition on images of Jakarta. The
\nterm was first coined by painter Semsar Siahaan. The exhibition
\nwill run until tomorrow at the gallery in the French Cultural
\nCenter.<\/p>\n
For Dangla, this is his second Belantara Jakarta exhibition;
\nthe first was in January 1995. The second exhibition is also
\nintended to promote his first book, which is also titled
\nBelantara Jakarta.<\/p>\n
This time, one can also see the creativity of the 37-year-old
\nFrench photographer beyond his photographic images. The French
\nCultural Center has given him a lot of freedom to decorate the
\ncenter to achieve the best setting for the exhibition.<\/p>\n
Besides those in the main gallery, Dangla's photos are on
\ndisplay in the cafeteria and in the surrounding hallways. He has
\neven painted the glass doors of the center's classroom white and
\nasked the students to write on them. The white-painted doors give
\nthe impression of an unfinished building.<\/p>\n
Most of his exhibited photos are framed and hung on the
\ncenter's white walls. However, there are also some printed in
\ngiant poster size on exhibit in a dark room, its walls covered by
\nblack cloth.<\/p>\n
In this dark room, the giant images of Jakarta are ready to
\nstrike us. One of them is an image of two street children
\nsleeping, hiding their faces. It is as if they want to completely
\nforget what they are usually facing in the big, ruthless city.<\/p>\n
Slums, poverty, struggling blue-collar workers and homeless
\npeople in Jakarta have been Dangla's most common images of
\nJakarta. People have criticized him for presenting only the
\n"ugly" side of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In reaction to this criticism, Dangla only shrugged his
\nshoulders and said "I just showed what the average Jakartans are
\nlike. I do not think Jakarta is a glamorous, beautiful and clean
\ncity. I show things objectively. No more, no less."<\/p>\n
There is also the reason of accessibility. Dangla finds that
\nthe lower class is everywhere in the streets of Jakarta and they
\nare easier to approach.<\/p>\n
"The lower class is more open," Dangla said. On the other
\nhand, most of the higher-class people reject his taking pictures
\nof them. "Maybe they want to hide something," he said.<\/p>\n
The openness of the lower class people is obvious; most of
\nthem stare at the camera. They are not afraid or embarrassed,
\ndespite their struggle with life.<\/p>\n
One of the most striking images is a picture of a woman living
\nat a Chinese grave site in Cipinang. Hugging her dog and with her
\ncooking utensils stacked on the floor, she sits on the grave,
\nlooking directly into the camera. She is not shy, but there is a
\nsense of helplessness in her eyes.<\/p>\n
Dangla has written "Home, Grave. Owning a roof is an important
\nthing" as the caption for this portrait.<\/p>\n
Recently, Dangla returned to the Chinese grave. He searched
\nfor the woman to show her the picture he had taken of her.
\nHowever, she was already gone, and nobody knew of her
\nwhereabouts.<\/p>\n
Not all the portraits of the lower class are grim. Some of
\nthem reflect hopes. A portrait taken at a 36 hectare site for
\ndumping garbage shows some children in their school uniforms
\nstanding in the foreground looking skyward.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the distance, a young man is standing on a high
\ngarbage heap, smiling. The young man used to spend his childhood
\nsorting out garbage there, Dangla said.<\/p>\n
The images of Jakarta as the center of Indonesian government,
\nculture and history are reflected in photos of public figures.
\nAmong them are Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, the wife of
\nSutan Sjahrir and poet Rendra.<\/p>\n
There are also some "peaceful" pictures of a demonstration in
\nsupport of the now banned Tempo magazine: a shot of a tired
\ndemonstrator sleeping on the street; a picture of some riot
\npolice. There is no violence or intensity evident in the photos.<\/p>\n
While many people think Jakarta is a tough city where only the
\nfittest can survive, Dangla has a different opinion. Jakarta is
\nnot a place where people are struggling, elbowing each other. In
\nfact, his portraits show people struggling through hardships
\npeacefully. It is a place where extremes exist, but still
\nmaintain order. That is Jakarta's forest in Dangla's eyes.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/herve-dangla-holding-2nd-photo-expo-on-jakarta-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}