Hotel Indonesia's history filled with art<\/p>\n
By Ida Indawati Khouw<\/p>\n
In the early years of Hotel Indonesia, one of Jakarta's most
\nimportant landmarks, the hotel dealt very much with art. The
\nhotel will celebrate its 38th anniversary on Aug. 5. This 49th
\narticle on old and protected buildings in Jakarta highlights the
\nhotel's commitment to promoting the arts.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hotel Indonesia (HI) in Central Jakarta may have
\nlost its position as the best international class hotel in the
\ncountry since many new ultramodern hotels have been built in
\nJakarta, Bali and other provincial capitals.<\/p>\n
But one thing Indonesians won't forget about the hotel is its
\ncommitment to the promotion of the arts. Works of arts can be
\nseen throughout the old hotel, giving testimony to its years of
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
The moment one enters the hotel reception, ones eyes are
\ngreeted by statues, paintings, mosaics and reliefs created by
\nIndonesian artists from the early years of the country's
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
The arty atmosphere is attributed to former president Sukarno,
\nwho was an avid art lover. He supervised every stage of the
\nhotel's construction from 1959 to 1962.<\/p>\n
Particularly unique are bronze statues scattered around the
\nhotel's gardens and pool -- all of them featuring nude women in
\nvarious postures.<\/p>\n
\"I think the inspiration came from Sukarno who, as everybody
\nknows, had a legendary eye for women,\" said sculptor Arsono, who
\nwas involved in designing the hotel's mosaics in 1961.<\/p>\n
The hotel improved the economic life of artists, who at that
\ntime had no fixed source of income.<\/p>\n
\"By just becoming the assistant of (sculptor) Gregorius
\nSidharta who was in charge of making of the hotel's mosaics, I
\ncould buy a bicycle and bought my mother new clothing,\" Arsono
\nrecalled.<\/p>\n
Sweet recollections of the hotel's contribution to the arts
\nalso come from performing artists.<\/p>\n
\"HI even had an art and culture department in which (film
\ndirector) Teguh Karya was a staff member,\" said Henky Solaiman,
\nfilm star who once belonged to Teguh's Teater Populer.<\/p>\n
Once a month the theater performed on the Bali Room stage,
\nplaying several world class plays like Caligula and Anton
\nChekov's Swan Song.<\/p>\n
\"It was during that time that talented artists emerged, like
\nTuti Indra Malaon, Slamet Rahardjo, N. Riantiarno and others,\"
\nHenky said.<\/p>\n
The theater was transformed into a film industry after the art
\nand cultural department was dissolved.<\/p>\n
Since the hotel's establishment, other high rise buildings
\nhave been erected along Jl. Thamrin and surrounding areas that
\nhave \"sunk\" the glory of the hotel.<\/p>\n
Swamps<\/p>\n
Located in the heart of the capital, fronting the Selamat
\nDatang (Welcome) statue, funding for the hotel came from the
\nUS$223.08 million war reparation from Japan, which occupied the
\ncountry between 1942 and 1945.<\/p>\n
The area where Hotel Indonesia was built used to be swampy,
\ninhabited by wild animals and covered by plants and trees.<\/p>\n
The construction of the multi-storied hotel, which
\naccommodated contingents of the Fourth Asian Games here in 1962,
\nattracted American senator Robert Kennedy to directly witness the
\nbuilding construction.<\/p>\n
Said to be Indonesia's pride, the hotel was constructed by
\nIndonesian construction company, PT Pembangunan Perumahan,
\nalthough foreign architects and consultants were also involved.<\/p>\n
The architects were American couple Abel and Wendy Sorensen
\nand the consultants were from Japan.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, we really learned from the foreign experts on
\nhow to build,\" said Arsono.<\/p>\n
Originally, the hotel had a T shape so that guests could enjoy
\nthe city's panorama from every room.<\/p>\n
Modern equipment was furnished, including 156 spotlights with
\ndimmer devices in the annex Bali Room convention hall, whose
\nwalls could be moved automatically.<\/p>\n
The hotel featured international standard lounges, convention
\nrooms, coffee shop, restaurants and an Olympic-size swimming
\npool.<\/p>\n
The hotel had a worldwide market and was advertised in
\nnewspapers in the United States, such as the New York Herald
\nTribune and the New York Times, with the motto \"Hotel Indonesia,
\ndramatic symbol of free nations working together.\"<\/p>\n
The hotel was officially inaugurated by Sukarno on Aug. 5,
\n1962. The first guest was a representative of the Rockefeller
\nFoundation named Allen Altwelt, who came to the hotel by becak
\n(three-wheeled pedicab).<\/p>\n
New rooms and facilities were continuously added as the hotel
\nalso became the place where the government's important meetings
\nwere held.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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