Local comics: Dead or alive?

Ida Indawati Khouw, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Talking about Indonesian comics means discussing history, said a writer in a newly published Panel, the bulletin of the comic world.

Indeed, the statement is true.

Ask ordinary people about who are the great local comic illustrators and the replies will be very limited.

The big names, R.A. Kosasih, Jan Mintaraga or Ganes Th., were great comic artists dating back to the 1960s or 1970s.

The world has moved on. Comics are no longer an influential part of entertainment, partly because there are also various TV programs, VCDs, computer games and many other kinds of entertainment.

However, those who are nostalgic about the work of popular comic illustrators can see part of their output at the Library and Information Centre of the British Council on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. Selected are 50 comics from seven artists, who were quite influential in their era, and are now on display, starting Oct. 3 to Oct. 31.

The collections belong to Pengki, the Himpunan Pengumpul Komik of the Jakarta Arts Institute, or IKJ (the Association of IKJ Comic Collectors) which has selected the work of Ganes Th., Indri Sudono, Jan Mintaraga, R.A. Kosasih, Taguan Hardjo, Teguh Santosa and Wid NS.

"The exhibition is designed to show people in Indonesia, specifically teenagers, the past work and achievement of Indonesia's comic illustrators who have produced popular artwork," the exhibition leaflet said.

It is the perfect moment for those that have never seen the influential work of Ganes Th's imaginary character Si Buta dari Gua Hantu (the Blind one from Ghost Cave), the monumental work of the epic Mahabharata and Bharatayudha of R.A. Kosasih, the most senior comic illustrator, or the popular Petruk-Gareng characters of royalty servants in the shadow puppet show.

Some of the work was even produced as movies and television dramas.

During their heyday, in the 1960s and 1970s, their work was very popular. "It was the boom era for comics in the country," said Iwan Gunawan from Pengki.

Data shows there were 250 comic artists in the 1970s and 1980s and some of them were very productive. People could easily buy comics at certain places, notably at Central Jakarta's Lapangan Banteng, Pasar Baru and Senen, and Jatinegara in East Jakarta, where comic distributors or kiosk owners had comic rental businesses.

IKJ assistant rector Wagiono Sunarto said the key to the illustrators' success was the good quality of the stories and the drawing, and also the artists' commitment to the world of comics.

"At that time they could also cater for people's needs as there weren't so many other kinds of entertainment as nowadays," he said.

But comics were also allegedly responsible for damaging children's academic performance, an accusation made by parents. This was made worse by the existence of comics featuring pornographic images and violence.

Wagiono urged comic illustrators to be sensitive about such issues and avoid featuring violence. They can also, in accordance with the current use of comics, be used as a medium for information and education.

The situation has totally changed now as local comics have become much less popular, especially in view of the mushrooming imported comics mainly from Japan, which are translated into Indonesian.

There is still a long road for young comic illustrators to tread, although they still produce their output either via big publishers or independent publishing houses, whose distribution is very limited.

"We are still awaiting the emergence of good quality and popular local comics," said Iwan.

In the spirit of promoting potential young artists, the British Council will host another comic exhibition in November, featuring works made for academic studies, and in December, featuring the artwork of independent comic studios.