Indonesian writers locked in battle with development

By A.D. Donggo

JAKARTA (JP): A famous man of letters once said, "Government support of the arts is dreadful, for prosperous artists will never create a valuable piece of art."

Leo Tolstoy made the remark, though it is still not quite clear what was on his mind at the time.

Tolstoy lived in the 1800s when Russian tsars were ruling the country. He died in 1910, seven years after the government was toppled in a revolution in October 1917. Tolstoy was a prosperous man. He owned many hectares of land in Yasnaya Polyana, east of Moscow.

In that region he built a home, which is now a museum. He lived there, wrote there and was buried there in an anonymous tomb. It was there that he created two monumental works, Anna Karenina and War and Peace.

Was Tolstoy a poor man when he wrote the now-famous books? Although we cannot answer this question with complete confidence, a biography states that he was a man of affluence. The fact that he was rich must have been, more or less, the reason why he could create his work in peace.

So why did he make the above statement? Maybe at the time he had problems with the tsar, who may have limited the freedom of writers. Writers listen to their inner heart during the creative process, not someone else's.

Tolstoy's opinion has supporters and detractors. There is the question of whether wealthy artists who enjoy government support and other perks create worthy pieces. Most everyone, including artists, likes to live in comfort, no matter what people say.

I do not mean to be impudent by saying that an artist can only create a masterpiece when he or she is hungry. Can an artist create in peace and produce something good when the spouse or children are begging for food? Some can, though it would be difficult.

The uncertainty spawns another question: Do artists have to be supported by the government or any other party?

Let us take a look at the following sample found in Umar Kayam's novel Para Priyayi (The Aristocrats). On page 5, Kayam explains which parties made the publication of his novel possible: Gadjah Mada University, Yale University, the Ford Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation and Goenawan Mohammad.

Based on his acknowledgement, it becomes clear that without their support, Kayam could not have published his novel. We are certain that Kayam accepted the donations without any conditions, but if he had, what might have happened?

Tolstoy might have worried that artists receiving government support would have to create their art to satisfy and please their benefactor.

This problem is not new to Indonesian artists.

The question, discussed by many, is whether Para Priyayi is a quality piece. Quality is relative and often it is just a matter of taste or the author in question.

But promotion can also play a role. Para Priyayi was promoted continuously and marketing may have played a decisive role in its success. This is representative of the present situation in Indonesia.

I bring up the matter because Kayam has not benefited financially entirely from the support extended to him. Many have the impression that Para Priyayi was written in a rush. It has too many problems and, they say, the novel should have been written in three parts to give it more substance. It should have started with history, which was only briefly mentioned in the story. But he did not.

What about those writers who never receive financial support or have rejected it? Is there any Indonesian artist who has never received some form of support? I believe there are many, such as Chairil Anwar, Sitor Situmorang, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, and maybe Y.B. Mangunwijaya. As far as I know, none has ever received assistance from the government or any private party regarding the creation of their poems or novels, and none live in luxury. This is especially true of Chairil Anwar, who was regarded by many as nearly destitute, though he created great poems which are still being read to this day. Chairil Anwar's works have become immortal.

If we look at our own situation, mostly in the field of art and culture, we have been locked into a constant battle with rapid economic development. A greater part of the Indonesian nation is enjoying the country's achievements.

In a time of relative prosperity, many expect great works of literature and art to be produced. But we do not know if a better economic situation has weakened or improved the creativity of the writers.

Some politicians feel that the current situation has created an atmosphere that can kill human creativity, though I think it is naive to blame the economy. However, we have to admit that no work of importance has been created in the last two decades. Certainly not in literature. We don't know whether it is because the writers are ignorant or facing certain limitations.

Some writers say that if they have to consider many aspects such as economics and political circumstances, they will not be able to create anything until the end of their life. It is an extreme opinion, but how about one's inner heart? Artists usually stand up for marginalized people and against injustice. But if the artists display these feelings explicitly in their work here, someone is usually offended.

An artist's position is often an uncomfortable one.

The writer, a former journalist and editor, is now a freelance writer and novelist.