Exhibition reveals contrasting styles of local snappers

By K. Basrie

JAKARTA (JP): Kayus Mulia and Eky Tandyo are both members of the Association of Indonesian Professional Photographers. But, viewing them from many angles, it is obvious the two are very different.

In their world, the distinction between them is akin -- both literally in the exhibition as well as figuratively -- to the differences between black-and-white and color prints.

In terms of professional experience, Kayus, for instance, had already learned photography before Eky was born.

As to their education backgrounds, Kayus graduated in architecture in Germany and also studied at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Eky was, in contrast, a dropout from the graphic design school at Trisakti University in Jakarta.

Long after Kayus had opened his studio, Eky was just starting to find his way in the world of professional photography.

Being grouped in similar associations, however, cannot conceal their differences.

Their joint exhibition, currently at the Plaza Menteng shopping center here, sheds further light on their distinctive egos.

Both display 22 of their "grand" pieces taken with large format cameras between 1994 and 1998 and their rivalry to attract the visitors' attention is obvious.

As if racing to an unreachable finish line, both stick to their own styles to reinforce their individuality, making the exhibition at the tiny Cahya photo gallery look like two extremely different expos that happen to be hung together.

Kayus' collection is of vivid black-and-white works while Eky has gone for sparkling color photographs in the exhibition that carries the theme of "Fine Art Photography" and runs through Monday.

The concepts and settings of the shots reflect the unmatched characteristics and tastes of the two pros.

Eky's works are all taken in a studio, while Kayus' are of outdoor objects taken on hunting trips both in Java and overseas.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post last weekend, Eky said: "I always get the concept in my mind first before taking the shots. But Kayus does the opposite.

I use much symbolic language, albeit not that deep-meaning. My symbolism is transparent, easy to decipher and communicative."

His "rival" Kayus described his own approach: "Everything on this earth has been photographed. We can only differentiate ourselves from others by presenting the ordinary extra- extraordinarily."

One of Kayus' works, titled Electric Pole, Perth, depicts an old, fractured wooden telegraph pole and wires with a dull sky in the background. This clearly represents his thoughts about "an ordinary extraordinary" object.

The picture sparked numerous comments from visitors, most of whom were young photography enthusiasts.

"Why did Pak Kayus have to go to a place as far away as Perth (in Western Australia) to take a picture of a telegraph pole if he could take hundreds of similar scenes here in his own country?" asked student Didiet from Bandung.

Eky's Help (Women's Right) was many visitors' favorite shot.

Portraying a heavy brown boot about to step on a little green- yellow-and-black butterfly, the aim "is to illustrate the current state of women in this country", he said.

While Kayus' work can be understood in a flash, Eky's are different. Visitors are invited to interpret the meaning based on just the pictures and a brief caption.

"It's my goal to give people freedom to form their own interpretation of my work," Eky said.

The only similarities between the two artists' works, in what is their first joint exhibition, are the black and white frames and the prices!

All the pictures, most of which are 30 cm by 40 cm, cost Rp 1.5 million (US$200) each.

"Never say 'surrender' to the crisis. Keep up your creativity and let's see (business) opportunities during this time of hardship," Eky said.

As professionals in their field, Kayus and Eky have been methodical and thorough in preparing for the exhibition, which is drawing to a close after being displayed in Yogyakarta (in June) and Bandung (in September).

The lights, the display boards and the prints are all perfectly prepared to present an ideal and enjoyable exhibition venue.

This, however is in contrast with the building, which has become so quiet in the wake of many of the shops being forced to close due to the current crisis.

But overall, these two photographers' distinct concepts contrast nicely. And at least Kayus knows how to guide a junior into the world of seniority.