Jakarta and Beijing: Through the eyes of the beholders
Jakarta and Beijing: Through the eyes of the beholders
Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta
On Dec. 9 a fascinating photo exhibition opens in Jakarta.
Borrowing its title from Charles Dickens' famous novel A Tale of Two Cities, it is of course not be comparable to Charles Dickens' tale that involved London and Paris against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Yet the pictorial narration by noted photographer Oscar Motuloh of the Indonesian news agency Antara and Zhuang Jin of the Chinese news agency Xinhua is as fascinating as Dickens' masterful eloquence.
Jakarta and Beijing, two cities representing two of the most populous countries in the world, have been the theme of a project conceived by the Antara and Xinhua's chiefs some time ago. The project offers a unique opportunity to bring together the two metropolis in images that are more telling than words.
What strikes the Chinese photographer in the realms of the capital city of Jakarta? Evidently, it's life itself.
For me, Jakarta is like a cocktail city with everyone unfolding their own particular lifestyle, says Zhuang whose pictures testify to his statement. Yet there is a distinct sense of contrasts and the large disparity separating the population into the more fortunate and the less fortunate.
A large image of Esprit and one of a high-heel shoes advertisement stand as a comparison to the situation of the vulnerable, the poor, whose children stare forlornly and with big eyes amidst the ruins caused by fire or eviction. One also gets the flavor of what it means to be in the midst of the heat of demonstrations. Zhuang, however, also notes the smiles and the fun that runs deep in the lives of the poor for whom the national celebrations in the neighborhood provide a welcome break from their daily routines.
Slightly different from Zhuang, Oscar Motuloh lets his third eye see beyond realities, bringing together his natural instincts incited by knowledge, personal visions and the artistic. His professional skill brings into his images a reverberating depth, making us aware of his stirring narrative and giving us a sense of someone walking the old places of history and rich culture without forgetting tragedies like the Tiennamen Square massacre, and issues of separation and alienation.
In Beijing, Motuloh imagines how the face of China would be like when the kids, known as the little emperors or xiao huangdi, one-child policy generation, mature as leaders of their country.
Perhaps, even the far-reaching globalization would be unable to uproot the age-old culture. At least, that is Motuloh's vision when presenting his images that ponder the future, juxtaposing the grounds of deep-rooted culture with historical events, the influx of global trends, and recent developments.
The tale of Jakarta and Beijing evokes an awareness of the striking differences in the face of some similarities. In Jakarta, as presented by these images, it is the gap between the rich and poor that comes to mind, while in Beijing cultural heritage seems to play a role in the process of globalization.
It is this kind of portraits that may open the eyes and the minds of city governments towards the realization of betterment. In this sense, more projects of this kind might be commendable.
A Tale of Two Cities: Jakarta-Beijing Opening Dec. 9 at Wisma Antara, Jakarta at 8 p.m. Exhibition from Dec. 13, 2003 to Jan. 17, 2004. At Antara Photo Gallery, Jl. Antara 54, Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta