Sculptors explore tradition to terrorism

Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta

Efforts to dig deep into tradition, metropolitan settlement, women's existence, terrorism up to the personal languages of stones, marbles, metals, wood, fibers and resins are the main features of 43 sculptures on display at an exhibition here.

Eight artists from Bandung, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta -- alumni of Bandung's Institute of Technology (ITB), Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) and Yogyakarta's Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) -- present their latest works in the last three years at the patung@eg.com exhibition.

Though the exhibition's title seems playful, the works are in fact serious creations of the artists -- Akmal (ISI), Altje Ully Panjaitan (IKJ), Awan Parulian Simatupang (IKJ), Basrizal Albara (ISI), Nyoman Nuarta (ITB), Sardito (ISI), Thony Tarigan S. (ISI) and Yani Mariani Sastranegara (IKJ). Unlike the standard practice of curators to make their displays fit the themes offered for discourses, this time the exhibition reflects the artists' honest and free expression.

As a native woman of Batak Karo (North Sumatra) descent, Altje, now a Jakarta resident, endlessly explores women's affairs related to her homeland against the issues of gender, human rights, violence and the like, as reflected in two of her six works, Oroan 2000 and Song of Songs, 2002.

Oroan, a mix-media sculpture, features nude women in five separate boxes connected by a traditional woven scarf ulos. In Batak, ulos represents a ritual gift in the Batak family. Song of Songs features a bare-chested woman trying to reach her foot prints with her hair, a bitter experience that should never happen.

In the context of violence, sculptor Nyoman Nuarta displays his work called WTC 2002, in which he tries to describe the fierceness of international terrorism.

Nyoman, who has got a number of monumental statues to his credit, touches our feelings with his depiction of some people writhing at the end of a pile of debris. It was on the ground of this tragedy that US President George W. Bush and his allies attacked Afghanistan, toppled the ruling Taliban government and tried to capture Osama bin Laden but to no avail. Nyoman Nuarta has not created this statue as a means to state he takes sides with the United States. Rather, through his piece, he declares he sides with humanity.

While Nyoman Nuarta raises a global issue, Sardjito talks about a local issue through his work titled Dewi Welas Asih (The Goddess of Mercy), which is made of onyx mixed with copper. The hard onyx is carefully carved into a heart shape with a hole on the right and another one on the left. Then a copper mask depicting a graceful face is placed on the upper part of this shape, reflecting a hope for the presence of a merciful lady, more merciful than any lady who happens to be in power now.

In the eyes of Basrizal Albara, a woman is stronger and firmer than a man. This is understandable as he comes from a region where the matrilineal system is still prevailing. So, in his works, Wanita Gunung (A Mountain Woman) and Wanita dan Rembulan (Woman and the Moon), the limbs are intentionally made bigger and longer than usual.

For Yani Mariani Sastranegara, what is interesting to her is movement. In her Midnight Serenade, 2001, she eloquently explores the gestures and impression of the wind. Her works are always neat, just like her daily appearance.

In this exhibition, though, Yani is not the only one exploring movement. Tony Tarigan does likewise as shown by his works Kuda Lumping (Hobby Horse) and Penari (Dancer). The works depict movement though through the works he is trying to reveal his concern over Javanese artists, who do not get respect from the government but enjoy appreciation from foreign tourists.

Concern is an asset for artists to express themselves artistically. For Awan Parulian, his concern is housing. Everybody needs a house as a private space and for their own existence but not everybody - especially in a metropolitan city - can own one. At least it is this points that he wants to convey through his work, Rumah 2002 (House 2002).

* patung@eg.com exhibition runs until June 9 at Edwin Galeri, Jl. Kemang Raya 21, Kemang, South Jakarta. Tel. (021) 7194721