Harsono opens `Republik Indochaos' show

Harsono opens `Republik Indochaos' show

Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta

FX Harsono, a former exponent of the New Fine Art Movement, is
holding a solo exhibition at the National Gallery, Jakarta, after
it has been delayed twice.

Themed "displaced", the event had been put off due to the
artist's reluctance, stemming from his pessimism over the
prospect of reformasi in Indonesia.

Under this theme, the exhibition, with Hendro Wiyanto as its
curator, aims to describe at least two things. First, he aims to
show that Harsono is "misplaced" in the current sociocultural
setting so that he feels alienated and deprived of his cultural
roots. Second, he intends to portray commonplace errors in many
respects: ideology, politics, social affairs, economy, security
and culture -- which have been taken for granted by their
communities.

The two points are intriguingly concluded in his works,
Cogito, Ergo Sum (2003), 60 centimeter (cm) by 73 cm digital
prints on six panels. While French philosopher Rene Descartes
initiated "Cogito, Ergo Sum" to declare the existence of a person
after deep thought, the reverse applies to Harsono. "The deeper I
think, the more I cease to exist," he said, laughingly.

His thought is symbolized as a book in the palm and he is
represented by his monochrome passport photo. The photo
increasingly fades away and at the same time the book, originally
a small element, grows into a sheet and a volume.

In his initial exploration of this theme, Harsono starts from
the social events that have disturbed his conscience since
president Soeharto stepped down in 1998 amid waves of reform.

The "stamp monument", Republik Indochaos (1999), a 57 cm by 53
cm photo-etching on paper in five panels, contains Soeharto being
crossed out with the words "stepping down", security men beating
up demonstrators with the comment "Violence is no solution", and
flames consuming buildings.

Api 1 & 2 (Fire, 2000), a 62 cm by 56 cm photo-etching on
paper, presents the tragedy of masked power, and his Super Woman
(2001), 62 cm by 57 cm, makes the virtual and real worlds clash,
through the animation of film figure Lara Croft and a woman
worker. This latter etching seems to ask: Who is the heroine
between the two worlds, the woman of image or reality?

Harsono, who is also a graphic designer, has been active since
the 1980s and has participated in exhibitions both at home and
abroad. By applying fine art, graphic and also installation art
media, he continues to be engaged in the creative process.

Having studied at Yogyakarta's Indonesian Arts Institute and
Jakarta Arts Institute, he has delved into digital technology and
its virtual world since 1990, making him live in the two spheres,
which generate happiness as well as tension.

The tension in him arose strongly when he had to formulate his
concepts of art in line with his psychological shock, amid
Indonesia's cultural disruption as a result of the
multidimensional crisis and reforms. Violence and indifference
toward ordinary people on the one hand, and glorification of
personal interests on the other, made him sick and leave social
themes.

He claimed he had lost his orientation of morality, ethics and
nationalism, and later became alienated in his own community. "I
asked myself, 'who am I?'," he said. "The answer: I have been
displaced."

The shift from social themes to his personal self can be
examined in his works: Open Your Mouth (2001), once displayed in
Japan, I am Here (2002), My Body is Land (2002), My Body is not
Mine (2002), Self-Esteem (2002), Identity (2003) and Displaced
1,2,3 (2003). The lattest work is represented by his seated body
with the head covered, along with Chinese characters containing
stigmas, and a wedding couple's celebration and maltreatment -- a
paradox of something displaced. He may be talking about the
ethnic Chinese in the country.

Especially with regard to Blank Spot on My TV (2003), 30 cm by
40 cm digital prints in 20 panels, it is an expression of
Harsono, whom philosopher F. Budi Hardiman described as a
"scenario painter", about the empty words of morality and
nationalism in the mass media.

The exhibition features Harsono's photo-etching, silkscreens,
xerography, photography, paintings, digital prints, text
quotations and their combinations -- constituting a demonstration
of an Indonesian citizen who feels alienated in his own country
-- which is understandable, as the Republic of Indonesia has
become, in his version, Republik Indochaos.

The exhibition will last until June 13, at the National Gallery,
Jl. Merdeka Timur 14, Gambir, Central Jakarta, tel. 34833954.