If you love animals, say it with the arts

YOGYAKARTA (JP): "Humanizing animals" might be the right way to describe the three-dimensional installations of Bunga Jeruk currently displayed at the Indonesian-French Institute (LIP) in Yogyakarta.

From May 22 to June 2 the graduate of the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) is exhibiting nine of her works titled Binatang (Animals).

Bunga Jeruk, 28, wants to raise the dignity of animals that people see around them all their life. Cute, obedient animals that are useful to man, are, Bunga says, often neglected or made to do what people want them to do.

"I love animals very much and I am sad whenever I see them mistreated. I am compelled to express my feelings through my work," she said.

This concern is the primary inspiration behind her artwork. She said she did not know what to call her creations. "People can say they are installation, sculptures, objects or Pop Art statues. It is up to them. It doesn't matter to me," said Bunga.

On entering the exhibition hall, visitors are welcomed by a small black dog on a tricycle. The fiberglass statue of the dog goes under the title Forced to be funny. The animal looks like a child riding a tricycle.

The inspiration came from her realization that people often mistreat dogs, such as making them do impossible things.

"People treat their pets like humans, ordering them to do this or that to just to look cute."

Other works give more food for thought, such as the ones titled Gara-gara bertelinga panjang (The result of having long ears), Sup kaki kambing muda (Baby goat-leg soup), Anak Ayam Turun Seribu (The hatching of a thousand chicks).

Each of her works has a special meaning, she said. Anak Ayam Turun Seribu, for example, was created after Bunga saw chicken traders painting chicks in the color of political parties during the run-up to the 1999 elections. The chicks were painted red, yellow or green to attract prospective buyers.

"Most of the buyers were children and the chicks died soon afterwards because they were treated like toys," she said.

Sup kaki kambing muda is an installation consisting of a large bowl of water containing soup ingredients like tomatoes, cabbage and a small goat doll, which looks pathetic.

"Here I ask why so many people like to eat baby goat meat? Is there no pity for the animal? Why not adult goats?" she asked.

Not all of the nine works on display carry a special message. At least two of are more concerned with art for art's sake, Dive and Bisa terbang tapi bukan burung (Can fly but not a bird). Dive depicts the tail of an airplane. On one of its wings a small swallow is perched. Bisa terbang tapi buka terbang is a statue of a pig with small wings perched on a small branch.

On the exhibition title Animals, Bunga Jeruk says that many people misuse the names of animals in curses, as well and use them like tools.

"I once saw a horse faint from fatigue after drawing a cart for a long time.

"The animal was helping its owner earn a living. I don't mean to suggest a ban on horse-drawn carts or to prohibit farmers from using buffaloes or cows in their work. But they should value those animals as living beings whose welfare and emotions need to be taken into account," she said.

Bunga said people still torture animals at will, such as in cockfights or buffalo races. "I am concerned about neglected animals in zoos."

The exhibition is her second solo exhibition. Her first in 1996 was at Kafe Solo in Surakarta. She often participates in joint exhibitions in major cities in Java, and once in Singapore.

The daughter of man of letters Darmanto Jatman, she received awards from the Yogyakarta Indonesian Arts Institute for Best Sketch 1991, Best Drawing 1992 and Best Painting 1993.

-- Tarko Sudiarno