Social critique steals the show at exhibition
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For their Mosaic annual contemporary fine art festival the Vanessa Gallery in South Jakarta has put on display a wide array of work, dominated by socially conscious hyper-realist painting and sculpture from scores of homegrown artists.
Most of the work delves into the social and political problems encountered by the country's poor and is created with popular images and ideas.
From the exhibition it is obvious that the massive social and political upheavals that followed the downfall of autocrat Soeharto are still important issues being mined by the country's artists.
A fine example of social critique on canvas is the work of Yogyakarta-based painter and 2002 Indonesian Indofood Art Award winner Sapto Sugiyo Utomo -- Rumah Tradisional (Traditional House). Contrary to its title, the painting depicts a square room made of heaped cardboard under which a man sleeps under rows of T-shirt bearing the logos of big political parties. The man is barely visible as he sleeps behind a used banner bearing a slogan of a political party pledging to strive for the people's welfare.
You do not have to be a political scientist to get the message here -- political parties offer little for the long-term improvement of poor people's lives apart from cynical gifts like cheap, low-quality clothing at election time.
In Kamarku (My Rooom), Sapto, paints a picture of two small street children who lie blissfully asleep on top of more cardboard. Only children hardened by life at intersections and under bridges could sleep so comfortably.
And after seeing all of Sapto's work, it becomes clear that he uses cardboard as a central symbol to represent the poverty and the plight of the poor.
Another Yogyakarta-based painter Budi Ubrux's work carries a similar style and message but goes further into detailing the everyday lives of his subjects.
In Live Must Goes On (sic), Budi paints a dark-skinned scavenger leaning back beside a garbage can. Seen from his prone position, the man, who has taken a break from his routine, displays a stark tenacity despite the obvious hardship he must endure.
If the work of the Indonesian painters was a serious journey to the nation's underbelly, that of the foreign artists -- Singaporean Steve Chua and Chinese Cao Jingping -- was a refreshing thematic and stylistic respite.
One of Chao's works, The Lovers depicts two yellow-winged butterflies together sucking out nectar from a flower -- an image that quickly brings to mind the famous Chinese romantic tragedy Sampek-Engtay.
Content-wise, Chua's work, The Two portrays a representation of a naked female; an impression of loneliness and restlessness; about finding one's place in the world.
The Mosaic exhibition runs until May 15 at Vanessa Gallery, Ruko Permata Senayan Blok A 31, Jl. Tentara Pelajar, South Jakarta. Ph.: 021-57941208, 021-57941209