Murals on display behind House complex

Murals on display behind House complex

JAKARTA (JP): A number of Jakarta Arts Institute students
display their mural artwork on the wall behind the House of
Representatives complex in Central Jakarta.

Artists from various backgrounds have decorated a number of
public places in the city, as part of the month-long JakArt@2001
to commemorate Jakarta's 474th anniversary.

Such public paintings can also be found at various public
places in the capital, including bus stops and flyovers. They
have been decorating the city.

However, one of the public art works, a mural at Plaza
Indonesia bus stop on Jl. MH Thamrin was found damaged on Sunday,
with white paint splashed on it.

Another art work, an installation called Penjual Sepatu (Shoe
Seller) placed at the National Monument (Monas) park was removed
by unknown people.

Artists grouped in the Ruangrupa fine art group protested on
Monday at the removal of the installation work and the mural at
Plaza Indonesia bus stop.

They charged city authorities with attempting to remove art
works they did not agree with. "Who has the authority to actually
govern public spaces then?" they asked in a statement. "Do these
public spaces remain (for the enjoyment of the public)?"