Marvelous Asia in the eyes of a banker

By K. Basrie

JAKARTA (JP): The dividing line between Asia and Europe is still debatable. But the "border" is very much clear for the private life of Paul Beiboer, a Dutch photography enthusiast and Asia-based banker by profession.

It is, he says, Asia's beauty, in its people, culture and nature, and all its varied richness which has captivated his soul and distanced him from his homeland.

"Most Europeans go back to their home countries for vacation, while I always spend most of the time here in Asia," Beiboer said.

Beiboer, who was born in Wamena, Irian Jaya, and is now head of the corporate division of PT Rabobank Duta Indonesia, might have good reason to explore this vast continent.

In recent decades, legends have developed around many aspects of Asia.

The mysterious lady Matahari, the wonderland of Tibet, the sacred sites of Cambodia, the exotic island of Bali, the sparkling neon lights of Hong Kong's skyscrapers, and the challenge of Everest are just a few examples.

Three years ago, Beiboer was almost attacked by a mother elephant in a national park north of India.

But it seems the experience only increased his love for Asia.

It is the variety of Asia that has bewitched Beiboer, a keen photographer since he was a teenager, and led him to capture its many facets in slides and prints.

"In this exciting region, I continue to be attracted to its amazing people, their fascinating cultures and the tremendous diversity of its colorful landscapes.

"When photographing people, I try to capture images of them in an honest and positive manner, by showing their emotions," he said.

On every vacation in his four years in Asia (one year in Hong Kong and three years in Indonesia), Beiboer carried a backpack filled with about 20 kilograms of medium format photographic gear, a tripod and another backpack for film.

"I now have a collection of some 8,000 slides of Asia," Beiboer said.

With the encouragement of his wife and friends, he is currently displaying a selection of 89 prints of his works in the Cahya photo gallery in Menteng Plaza, Central Jakarta, which will last until April 20.

All the pictures, half of them black and white prints, show the people and scenes of many countries in this vast continent.

The 30 centimeter by 40 centimeter prints are framed with white matte board and black wood. The many photos portray, among other things, an Irianese with his favorite stuff stuck in his nose, a Myanmar Padaung woman with her heavy coils of necklace, snake charmers of Kathmandu, a meat market in Chengdu, China, the happy face of a Tibetan girl near Mount Everest, the Jokhang temple in Lhasa, and the giant trees surrounding the Angkor temple complex in Cambodia.

"It's about 10 countries, including Tibet, Cambodia, China, Myanmmar, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Nepal," Beiboer said.

Countries such as the Philippines, the two Koreas, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan are not on Beiboer's list.

Indonesia is represented only by Jakarta, Bali, Irian Jaya and Mount Bromo in the two-week exhibition, which is Beiboer's first solo photo expo.

As if to excuse himself, Beiboer said: "I don't have much time. In Cambodia, for instance, I only had five days. Simply, it's a matter of time."

Beiboer, who said he has never been participated in any photo contest or exhibition, has priced his works at between Rp 1 million and Rp 2 million each.

"I think it's good for people in Indonesia to look at other cultures around and learn more about people and the way they live.

"We know that many Indonesians don't have money to travel there by themselves. I just want to show them what's really happening around Asia," he said.

Some would agree that Beiboer's works in the display, titled Reflections of Asia, are simply tourist pictures.

After viewing his works in the tiny gallery, many might feel they are not visiting a photo exhibition but a travel agent displaying posters of popular destinations in Asia.

It is difficult to find new and imaginative images with spirited narrative qualities.

The colorful aspects of Asia are missing. The people, activities and surroundings are not really anything new. They are all common shots found in many tourist publications.

But judging from Beiboer's spirit and talent in composing shots, and the quality of the prints, he may in fact be the best banker photographer in the region at the moment.

"Yes, they are tourist pictures, because they're taken in different countries. But this is just a start. I want to continue to take more pictures of Asia," he said.

The only gorgeous snap in the exhibition is the portrait of a white baby in the cradling arms of a half-naked Irianese. Unfortunately, this shot was not Beiboer's. It is taken by his father. The baby in the picture is a young Beiboer.

Beiboer's current exhibition is a good start for a busy enthusiast like him. And he has vowed to make photography his sole profession in the future.