Ooq searches for truth through his works

By Amir Sidharta

JAKARTA (JP): While the general public has only recently questioned the validity of the Surat Perintah 11 Maret (the 11 March Order) -- popularly known as Supersemar, and the events that led to the final days of Sukarno's life, the late Pak Ooq has been posing these questions through paintings dating from the 1970s.

This can be seen in his exhibits at the Galeri Linggar, Kemang, South Jakarta, until Nov. 17.

Dukut Hendronoto, nicknamed Ooq, was born in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, in 1919. He grew up in a family of artists. His brothers, Sumitro, Surono, Sapto Hudoyo and Hasto Prasojo are well-known artists. Ooq made a name for himself by becoming a warrior-painter, an animation specialist, and later an art educator.

Before 1945, Ooq fought in Yogyakarta, and became the courier of General Sudirman, the Commander of the Indonesian struggle on Java. After Indonesian independence in 1945, Ooq became a painter and his paintings often suggested his admiration of President Sukarno.

The President sent him to America to study animation at the Walt Disney Studios.

The artist's family still has a 1947 edition of The Art of Walt Disney, autographed for Ooq by Walt Disney himself. It is signed, "To Doekoet Hendronoto, With best wishes, Walt Disney", providing evidence of the Indonesian artist's acquaintance with the renowned animator.

Sukarno was toppled in 1966 with his remission of the 11 March Order which transferred power to Soeharto. Sukarno died in 1970, after having been placed under virtual house arrest for four years at his Wisma Yaso residence (now the Satria Mandala military museum) on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta. In the 1970s, most likely due to his critical views of the New Order government, Ooq was "exiled" to Irian. Back in Jakarta, he became an art educator, teaching art to children and teenagers. His pupils fondly called him "Pak Ooq", indicating both respect and intimacy at the same time. Many children could identify his house on Jl. Daksa, South Jakarta, from the statue of Sukarno which he proudly erected out front. Below the statue is an inscription that states "Bung Karno loves his people more than his own self." There was no doubt that Ooq was a great fan of Sukarno.

In "exile" in Irian, he apparently was abandoned and neglected. However, somehow he managed to return to Jakarta. Dukut Hendronoto passed away in 1978 from kidney disease.

Through his art, Ooq questioned the events that led to Sukarno's downfall and death. One painting, Silahkan Mendakwa (Feel Free to Accuse), dated 0274 (perhaps February 1974), shows a group of Catholic priests, dressed in white, confronting a soldier holding a rifle in his hand. The first of the priests carries a cross in his hand. Another priest holds a piece of paper, on which is written: "Feel free to accuse us of being Communists -- 40 Pancasilaist Nationalist Missionaries from Central Java". Another priest holds a sign: "In this world, you are in power, it will not be possible in eternal life -- the lament of the people who are frightened of jungle law" Below the priests, Ooq portrays a simple Javanese family, father, mother and child being carried on the back of the father. In the background, shown in the plane of the canvas between the priests and the soldier, several skeletons are scattered on the ground. In this background, above the horizon, the word "Buru" is vaguely written, referring to the name of the island to which political prisoners were usually sent, particularly participants in the G30S/PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) coup d'etat.

Toward the bottom of the canvas, one of the skeletons presents a letter in the direction of the soldier. It reads: "The burning voices of spirit from Lobang Buaya -- I am not your hero, you are the one who has killed me. It was your idea to obscure your trail, thief shouting 'thief!' My cadaver you respect, shedding your 'crocodile's tears' Who dares to reveal this story, will die. You exercise jungle law. You who are powerful must always be considered right, free to do as you wish. People are frightened, feel free, please. --- in the name of Seven Cadavers"

The Seven Cadavers referred to in the letter clearly means the seven top military officials who were assassinated -- reportedly in a gruesome manner -- by members of the PKI. Their mutilated bodies were dumped into the abandoned well of Lobang Buaya in East Jakarta. Thereafter, the seven men became known as the Seven Heroes of the Revolution. Through this letter, Ooq questions the gesture of honor provided by the New Order government to the seven men, as he considers that it was this very government that was actually responsible for making the seven men into martyrs of the revolution.

He also considers the New Order responsible for the vicious manhunt that lead to the deaths of around half a million people who were accused of being members of the PKI. These accusations were apparently what is referred to in the piece of paper held by one of the priests in the painting. At the time, it certainly did seem that jungle law prevailed.

A portrait of Sukarno, entitled Pemimpin Besar Revolusi (The Great Commander of the Revolution) dressed in full costume is another piece that attracted many viewers at this exhibition. The President's smiling face is rendered in a rather sinister and comical manner. However, the portrait is more than a mere portrait.

A number of books hint at what the artist is trying to say through this painting. To the figure's right are four books, among others: Apa Isi 11 Maret (What is the Content of 11 March), Asia Afrika (Asia-Africa), Usaha Sukarno, Islam Bersatu Di Dalamnya, Pahlawan Islam (Sukarno's Efforts, Islam Unites within Him, The Hero of Islam) and Dunia AS-US Takut Nefos Kekuatannya Dunia (The United States and Soviet World is Afraid of Nefos, The Power of the World).

These books seem to show the achievements of the late president.

To the left of the figure are two books. The first is entitled Makar Benar 1966 dalam Negara Pancasila (Right Makar, 1966, in a Pancasila State"), while the second is Makar Salah tahun 1974 Karena Kalah (Wrong Makar, 1974, Due to Defeat). The former clearly refers to the 11 March 1966 Order, or Supersemar, while the latter is less obvious. It most likely refers to the Malari (15 January) affair of 1974, in which a student protest against the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister K. Tanaka turned into violent riots.

Another painting, this one even more controversial than the others, dated 10/11/77, shows Sukarno being crucified. Above him is a piece of paper, with SP 11 Maret written on it, making direct reference to the Supersemar. Satria Mandala (Kostrad) is written on the cross above the figure's right hand, referring to the name of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command. On the left side, Paran Nasgung is written, referring to the Committee for the Retooling of State Apparatus, a government body that existed during Sukarno's years. Below Sukarno's feet is written Wisma Yaso, the place where Sukarno was held under house arrest before his death.

Finished on Heroes' Day in 1977, it seems that the artist intended to dedicate this painting to his hero, Sukarno, on the occasion of that very day. Although it is not exhibited, it is fortunate that it still exists, because it clearly is a unique historical document that provides evidence of Dukut Hendronoto's thoughts and ideals. "I paint to fight for truth and legitimize the spirit of our struggle," the artist once said. Through this exhibition we realize that Ooq's paintings provide us with an excellent example of a person of integrity.

On this Heroes' Day, may we honor Pak Ooq.

The writer is the curator of Museum Pelita Harapan in Lippo Karawaci, West Java.