Lontar gallery realizes 'Tempo's dream<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Tempo magazine no longer exists but its old
\ndreams are still alive.<\/p>\n
Among its dreams was to build an integrated complex where the
\nmagazine's office stands, together with other facilities
\nconsidered as important for those working for the press,
\nincluding a theater, gallery and conference room.<\/p>\n
"With the gallery, we show that we are close to artists from
\nearly on," said Fikri Juffri, the magazine's former editor.<\/p>\n
To this end, they had bought a 6,000 square meter plot of land
\non Jl. TB Simatupang, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the magazine's closure by the government in
\nJune 1994 jeopardized the whole plan.<\/p>\n
While waiting for the government to reissue their license, the
\nmagazine sold its properties one by one -- including the land on
\nJl. TB Simatupang -- so that its former staff could survive.<\/p>\n
A number of former employees who still cherished the dream
\nthen bought a two-storied warehouse and its adjacent plot on Jl.
\nUtan Kayu, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Its second floor functions as a gallery, called Lontar
\nGallery. The first floor serves as a shop, where products of the
\nLontar Foundation are sold.<\/p>\n
The Lontar Foundation was established in 1987 to promote
\nIndonesian culture and literature. Its activities include
\ntranslating Indonesian literary works<\/p>\n
"We deliberately named the gallery after the foundation, since
\nthe foundation has had a wide art network at home and abroad,"
\nsaid Fikri.<\/p>\n
The gallery was officially opened last week by Muhammad
\nSofjan, assistant to the tourism, post and telecommunications
\nminister in charge of facility and infrastructure affairs, in a
\nceremony attended by several artists and authors, including
\nnovelist Umar Kayam and author Pramudya Ananta Toer.<\/p>\n
Minister Joop Ave was not on hand to open the gallery as was
\nscheduled.<\/p>\n
The selection of items to be exhibited at the gallery is
\nundertaken by a board of curators, including several artists and
\nart critics of the former Tempo. They include Umar Kayam, Bambang
\nBujono, Jim Supangkat, S. Prinka, Sri Malela Mahargasari,
\nGoenawan Mohamad and Hildawati Soemantri.<\/p>\n
The gallery is now exhibiting graphic artwork and drawings by
\nFirman until the end of May. Following Firman's exhibit, the
\ngallery will display the graphic artwork of Tisna Sanjaya in
\nJune, the ceramics of Suyatna in July, the glass painting and
\ngraphic artwork of Hariyadi Suadi in August, and the paintings of
\nSemsar Siahaan in October.<\/p>\n
Fikri said that aside from holding exhibitions, the gallery's
\nmanagement will also routinely hold discussions on art, films,
\nliterature, theater and philosophy in the 120-square-meter
\ngallery. Downstairs, on the first floor, visitors can purchase
\ntranslations by the Lontar Foundation of Indonesia's best
\nliterature as well as various souvenirs, including T-shirts,
\ncalendars, posters and notebooks made of recycled paper.<\/p>\n
Besides the above, there is an open-air cafe, which was opened
\nthe same night. Its target visitors are artists, intellectuals
\nand journalists. The cafe is called Tempo cafe "to show how
\nsignificant the magazine is to us," said Fikri. (jsk)<\/p>",
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