Mind's eye of a national banker<\/p>\n
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
\"At the time, it was a luxury hearse,\" said Sigit Pramono when
\ncommenting on a photograph he had taken of a pedicab carrying a
\ncorpse in a black body bag.<\/p>\n
This characteristically Acehnese type of pedicab would not
\ndraw much attention under normal circumstances as it is merely a
\nmeans of public transportation for the poor.<\/p>\n
However for Sigit, the president director of BNI, the pedicab
\nwas special. \"We were lucky to use the pedicab. It was quite a
\nluxury,\" he said.<\/p>\n
What made the pedicab even more special to him was that the
\ndead body it carried was that of one of his employees killed in
\nthe Aceh tsunami, which destroyed two BNI branches.<\/p>\n
The body was found five days after the disaster. Unlike the
\nthousands of tsunami victims never recovered, Sigit's employee
\nhad a proper burial.<\/p>\n
The photo of the pedicab is being exhibited at Sobo Cafe in
\nYogyakarta with 40 other photos of Sigit's that reflect his
\nempathy for regular people. Although most of the photos are of
\nlandscapes and still life, some dwell on matters of human
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
Most of the photos were taken when Sigit was on assignment or
\nat social functions with colleagues. Sigit does not set aside a
\ntime to take photos, and carries his camera wherever he goes.<\/p>\n
When he arrived in devastated Aceh, he felt deeply for his
\nsubordinates and the ordeal they went through, which is why he
\nhas taken part in relief efforts and raises funds for victims.<\/p>\n
One becomes aware of a touching moment only when seen in the
\nmind's eye. Sigit allowed full rein to his mind's eye before
\ntaking a photo of children in a slum area in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In the photo, which makes a deep impression, the eyes of the
\nchildren reflect great optimism. With his ability to take such
\nmoving photos, Sigit, who was born in Batang, Central Java, uses
\nhis photographs to touch the hearts of charitable people to raise
\nmoney for humanitarian and educational programs.<\/p>\n
\"There is nothing wrong with someone who happens to be called
\nSigit Purnomo, and who also happens to be the chairman of a well-
\nknown bank, to sell his photographs for a social mission,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I could be likened to a bright kerosene pressure lamp that
\nattracts flying white ants. This is what I do with my
\nphotographs.\"<\/p>\n
So far he has collected more than Rp 1 billion from photo
\nsales at the exhibition in Yogyakarta, which runs through
\nJanuary. This amount was raised in no more than two hours.<\/p>\n
At a previous photo exhibition in Jakarta, 10 photos sold for
\nRp 5.55 billion. \"But please, don't accuse me of profiting from
\nthese photographs. Not one cent from the proceeds goes into my
\npocket. Just consider this photo exhibition something like a golf
\ntournament that a government agency organizes to raise funds for
\nsocial purposes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Why does Sigit use his photographs to help other people?
\nUnlike many high-ranking officials who spend weekends playing
\ngolf, Sigit prefers to spend his spare time taking photographs.<\/p>\n
Just look at the digitized date on the photos he has taken
\nlately. Most were taken on a weekend. \"I'm a banker who has
\nphotography as a hobby,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Despite his insistence that photography is just a hobby to
\nhim, his photos deserve the kudos that they attract. Some photos
\nthat he took abroad reflect the local character and have been
\ntaken as very attractive compositions, with excellent technique.<\/p>\n
That is why Aryono Huboyo Djati, the curator of Sigit
\nPramono's solo exhibition, said that apart from mastering
\nphotography techniques, Sigit was also very patient and careful
\nwhen taking a photo.<\/p>\n
\"What makes you smile is that some collectors buying these
\nphotos, taken with his conscience in full play, have ongoing
\ndebts at BNI,\" said Aryono.<\/p>",
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