Jakarta builds image through sculptures
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Monuments are an absolute essential (for a city) to clothe its vigor, like pants for the naked; pants, not a tie. -- Sukarno, 1962
This phrase from founding president Sukarno is often quoted to underline the importance of a monument or sculpture in accenting the character of a large modern city, like Jakarta.
The artistic structure, be it a building, monument or sculpture, will not only decorate the city, or function as a remembrance of the past, it also becomes a landmark, talking point, navigation tool and in many cases an attraction in itself.
If the worth of public sculpture is accepted, the question then becomes where a city administration should locate such a structure to produce the optimal effect?
And with many structures planned for the city, the Jakarta administration is particularly interested in finding out some answers.
One planned sculpture is a statue of the national hero Diponegoro on Jl. Diponegoro in Menteng, Central Jakarta -- nearby an interpretation of another hero Kartini.
The plan has its proponents and critics. Its supporters say the statue is a long-overdue commemoration of an important national hero, while its detractors say the new sculpture should not be placed in a location already busy with art.
The well-known businessman Ciputra is behind the project. As a art collector, he intends to share the beauty of his collection with the public.
Ciputra plans the sculpture of Diponegoro to be a three- dimensional version of Pangeran Diponegoro Terluka (The Irritated Prince Diponegoro), a painting by Hendra Gunawan. The sculptor who would turn the painting into a statue, is Moenir Pamoentjak.
"I only present the sculpture to the public. However, it is the authority of the city administration to determine its location," Ciputra said.
Head of Jakarta's City Parks Agency Sarwo Handhayani said she hoped the community would support to the plan.
Artists, however, have some reservations. Sculptor Dolorosa Sinaga welcomed the plan to put more public art in Jakarta but advised the city not to hurry when developing its plan.
"We can put sculptures in public areas, but we must make them perfect. The sculptures must be well-integrated with their surroundings," she said.
Meanwhile, senior architect M. Danisworo said a city without artistic structures would be like having an "i" without the dot.
However, having too many sculptures in the city would be like an "i" with two dots on it. "It would be excessive," he said.
Danisworo emphasized that any monuments should help the city build its character.
The administration should therefore plan carefully to avoid similar criticisms targeted at the sculpture of Sudirman, located on Dukuh Atas, Jl. Sudirman.
The location of the statue, was not only questionable, the artwork also failed to portray Sudirman how he really was, he said.
Sudirman was known as a frail, unhealthy man who despite his weakness was compelled to confront the Dutch soldiers. He commanded guerrillas fighting the Dutch on a stool carried by four fighters.
The sculpture on Jl Sudirman, however, shows a strong man full of stamina giving a muscular salute to motorists.
"The city should talk with the public and the arts schools to outline policies and strategies of urban development," Jakarta Art Institute lecturer Citra Smara Dewi said.