Colors of death in photographs, paintings

Colors of death in photographs, paintings

JAKARTA (JP): Kalimantan on fire! Forests take centuries to
mature, but only hours to burn. Try to imagine the appalling size
of the fires. They're much larger than images commonly seen in
the media would lead one to believe.

"People have to feel the heart of the fire," Stephen Hill,
director of UNESCOs Jakarta Office, said.

To share this feeling UNESCO and Posko Wijaya, a coordinating
body set up to spread public awareness of the fires, organized an
exhibition entitled Kalimantan on Fire at the Regent Hotel in
Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The exhibition, which runs until April 30, exposes the reality
of the death and devastation which is currently taking place
through the photographs of Poriaman Sitanggang and the paintings
of Enrico Soekarno.

Stark images displaying blackened silhouettes of the forest,
people who have lost their homes and land, and orang utans
evicted from their sylvan habitat by the flames drew the
attention of a few hundred guests.

Artist Enrico Soekarno captures the sound and movement of the
flames in his paintings. Using bold, fiery colors set off against
chilling black and blue hues, Enrico succeeds in bringing a lump
to the throat of all who cast an eye over his paintings.

The event serves the additional purpose of introducing Posko
Wijaya.

The coordinating body has been set up under the auspices of
BAPEDAL, the Environmental Impact Management Agency, to ensure
that donations to East Kalimantan reach their intended
destination. The Navy, and non-government organizations WALHI and
Konphalindo are also involved in running Posko Wijaya.

The body acts as an intermediary for people or organizations
who wish to send disaster relief such as rice and medicine to
East Kalimantan. Posko Wijaya advises concerned parties on how
best to send their contributions, and where and to whom they
should be sent. (Marieke van Heek)