Photographer vows to always come back<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
It may not have occurred to Australian photographer Bill Morrow
\nthat his first trip to Yogyakarta, in 1981, would end up with his
\ndeep love of the city.<\/p>\n
So profound that he cannot stay away or stop taking photos for
\nhis documentation and collecting various mementos.<\/p>\n
"This is my 18th visit to Yogyakarta. Still, I'd love to
\ncome back here again and again," Morrow told The Jakarta Post
\nearlier this week.<\/p>\n
Compared to the previous trips, Morrow's visit to Yogyakarta
\nthis year is considered special. He came with a planned program
\nof exhibiting some of his mementos and photos on Yogyakarta,
\nespecially the election-related ones.<\/p>\n
The exhibition was held at Yogyakarta's French Cultural Center
\nGallery this week under the theme of Return of the Tourist Party.<\/p>\n
The theme was picked because it was considered relevant now,
\nespecially because the country is bracing for the legislative
\nelection in April and the first-ever direct presidential election
\nin July.<\/p>\n
There are 32 black-and-white photos depicting campaigns and
\npolling activities, including a picture of Sultan
\nHamengkubuwono X voting during the 1999 general election.<\/p>\n
Morrow's exhibition is the second to be held in Yogyakarta.
\nEarlier, in 1995, a similar photo exhibition was done at the
\nBentara Budaya Yogyakarta, but it was under a more general topic.<\/p>\n
A graduate of the University of South Carolina in America,
\nMorrow who is also a lawyer. He finished his photography
\neducation at the University of South Australia's school of arts.<\/p>\n
Born in Adelaide, South Australia on March 23, 1952, Morrow
\nhas published a number of publications, mostly on legal issues,
\nphotography and visual arts. He also presented lectures on the
\nsame subjects at a number of universities and colleges in
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
All aspects of life in Yogyakarta interest him. He spent few
\nweeks in the city in 1999 when he was in the process of
\ncompleting his election project. Morrow also had the chance to
\nsee how Yogyakarta residents, like many others throughout the
\ncountry held their election. He shared the opinion that the 1999
\nelection was the most democratic one in the country's history.<\/p>\n
However, to maintain his neutrality, he intentionally created
\nhis own party, a non-contesting one of course, that he then named
\nthe Tourist Party. So serious was he, that he also made several
\nkinds of party souvenirs, just like real political
\nparties mostly did, such as pins, badges, and key chains.<\/p>\n
And he distributed the souvenirs to other tourists he met
\nwhile he was taking photos on the streets.<\/p>\n
What has also made this year's trip special for him was that
\nhe was also invited to speak on some seminars with local
\nstudents, mostly about his photography -- which he considered as
\nan opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n
"I like to talk to people. That's why I always try my best to
\nbe at the gallery during the exhibition hours so that I will have
\na chance to talk to the visitors about almost anything," said
\nMorrow, a widower with two children and a grandson.<\/p>\n
"I plan to write a book on Yogyakarta one day. It will be
\nwritten from an outsiders point of view," Morrow said.<\/p>",
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