Ooq searches for truth through his works

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.