Show displays street children's creativity

JAKARTA (JP): A group of street children are taking time out from the rat race to show off their creativity during a four-day exhibition at the Jakarta Arts Institute that will end Monday.

Held in conjunction with National Children's Day, Kamekspo '98 is also aimed at improving street children's social awareness.

Organized by street children from Sanggar Akar (Root Studio), it features a photography and art exhibition, an opera and workshops. The studio is managed by the Jakarta Social Institute, an NGO that deals with social and human rights activities.

T-shirts, paintings and stationary made from recycled paper and wood are being sold a the exhibition.

There are more than 200 paintings on display which illustrate the children's experiences. The paintings are on life in the street, including Aku Sedang Dipenjara" (I'm in Jail), Ayah Memungut Sampah (Father Collects Garbage) and Diam-diam Memeras Kami (They Silently Extort Us) and simply, yet honestly portray their harsh life.

In Ayah Memungut Sampah", Tuti Turwati, 10, has drawn three figures: one pulling a garbage cart while the other two carry a garbage basket on their backs.

"The poor people are there to support the rich. Without the poor, there would be no rich people," said Buyung, a 16-year-old street child who coordinated the expo.

"Poverty is identified with deprivation of creativity. We would like to change this image," said another street child, Puji, 16, the expo's public relations officer.

He said he invited street children from seven slum areas, including from Bandung, West Java.

Tonight, the children will perform an opera, Luka-Luka (Wounds), that portrays their hard lives on the streets.

"The kids were only given the story idea. They had to prepare the dialog by themselves." Buyung explained. (Yudhanta)