Students deliver political message with their art<\/p>\n
By Matdon<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Five young artists have come together for an
\nexhibition with the provocative title \"Dasar Babi-Babi. Hancurkan
\nSisa-Sisa Orde Baru, Golkar + Militerisme\" (You pigs! Crush the
\nremaining elements of the New Order, Golkar and Militarism).<\/p>\n
The title and the subject matter are evidence of the huge
\nchanges in the country since the resignation of Soeharto in May
\n1998, and the changing role of the military and the former ruling
\npolitical grouping Golkar.<\/p>\n
An exhibition with such a title and theme would have been shut
\ndown by the authorities if anyone dared to put it on during
\nSoeharto's authoritarian rule.<\/p>\n
The students are Rahmat Jabbaril, Kisuhardi and Johore, who
\nare from the Underground Wagon Group, and Kuncoro Adi and Graham
\nHawkins, two students of the Bandung Institute of Technology and
\nmembers of the Folk Network.<\/p>\n
The theme of the exhibition has raised eyebrows and stirred
\nemotions. Many pamphlets posted on Bandung street corners and
\nshops were mysteriously torn down, which may be a sign that their
\nworks are as relevant today as they would have been three years
\nago.<\/p>\n
Since 1965 and the ascendancy of Soeharto to power, the arts
\nwere an instrument of resistance frequently curbed by the
\ngovernment. Through the 1980s and 1990s, artists such as poet WS
\nRendra expressed their anger at the government, as did Nano
\nRiantiarno, Ratna Sarumpaet and others from the theater group
\nTeater Koma. In the 1990s there emerged Tukul, Samsar Siahaan and
\nMulyono, the founder of the Folk Network.<\/p>\n
Imprisonment and sanctions did not silence them as they worked
\nto seek freedom for the people from military oppression,
\ncapitalism and the legacy of feudalism.<\/p>\n
In the eyes of the five fine artists in the exhibition,
\nSoeharto's fall has not brought positive change and people
\ncontinue to live in fear. In their works, they convey their
\nbelief that those behind the changes today are nothing more than
\nopportunists and duplicitious \"reformers\". In their eyes, Golkar,
\nwhich was the machine that kept the Soeharto juggernaut running
\non the track of absolute power, is the main cause of the
\ncountry's woes.<\/p>\n
Rahmat, who has held protests in several cities nationwide,
\nsaid there was no significant fine arts movement in the country
\nsince the New Fine Arts Movement of the 1980s.<\/p>\n
However, he believes the fine arts movement, which was only
\nlauded if it was of benefit to the government's aims, said the
\ngenre can be of value if artists realize the suffering of the
\npeople and provide moral support.<\/p>\n
Parodies<\/p>\n
The artists each show between five to 10 of their works, all
\nof which are parodies of the situation in the country today. The
\ncommon theme in each is that the vestiges of the New Order will
\nonly disappear once the Golkar power structure extending from the
\ncenter to the regions is destroyed.<\/p>\n
Their argument is that the destruction of Golkar will also
\nreduce the power of the military , but efforts must be
\nnonviolent.<\/p>\n
\"Artists consistently striving for freedom through the fine
\narts should give priority to 'attacks' without violence against
\nthe New Order's remaining power,\" said Rahmat.<\/p>\n
In their view, the arts must become artists' awareness for
\nreviewing ideological, political, religious and cultural problems
\nwhich must be evinced by the artists in the form of a new visual
\nart, not only in the moving of realities. Art should be capable
\nof giving guidance to the society for a better existence.<\/p>\n
Rahmat held the Tomb Plastic Arts exhibition some time ago and
\nother exhibitions in several Indonesian cities. In early 2000 he
\ncanceled his planned exhibition in the Netherlands but would not
\nexplain the reason.<\/p>\n
Kuncoro Adi, Kisuhardi and Johor, also from Bandung, often
\nhold painting exhibitions which are distinguished by their
\nshowing their disappointment at the current situation in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Hawkins is an Australian who is also active in the Yogyakarta
\nTaring Padi Group. In his country of origin Hawking often held
\nexhibitions, and after settling in Indonesia five years ago, he
\nhas become involved in various art activities.<\/p>\n
They and other artists today must confront the following
\nquestions: How can fine arts be utilized to destroy the New
\nOrder's legacy? On which side must artists be in facing a
\nlegitimate government? Yet these are not only questions for the
\nart community, but also for the public in looking ahead to the
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
The exhibition is at the YPK Theater Building, 7 - 9 Jl.
\nNaripan, Bandung, until Jan. 27.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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