If you love animals, say it with the arts
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
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