Three young photographers on Independence

Three young photographers on Independence

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

For three Indonesian photographers, Paul Kadarisman, Keke Tumbuan
and Timur Angin, all born in the 1970s, Independence Day in 1945
is remote and must be pondered and understood.

Each photographer took a different approach to independence,
although feature young urban people as their subjects.

Paul Kadarisman, 31, took his friends, young people in
Jakarta, to visit the National Monument (Monas), where dioramas
of the archipelago's struggle to independence are presented.

At the historical monument built by first president Sukarno
but later used by second president Soeharto as one of his
propaganda tools, Paul's friends exhibited a laid-back manner in
spite of the supposedly patriotic atmosphere.

"These pictures are a subtle satire about the interaction
between young people and a political space. They do not look like
a group of depressed school children on a typical study tour,"
Alex Supartono, the curator of the exhibition commented on Paul's
works.

"To the contrary, they look comfortable because they have come
without a specific agenda and have chosen what they want to
enjoy," he added.

Keke Tumbuan, 28, also photographed her circle of friends who
are in music bands under independent or "indie" labels.

Keke, who studied photography at Fotoakademie Amsterdam, used
a pocket digital camera to capture the daily life of the
"indie/independent" band people.

"Keke's works always evolve around her daily life, both
thematically and technically. She tries to blend her private life
with her works, expression with creations," curator Alex said.

Timur Angin, 27, offered a different approach in most of the
pictures he exhibited for this event.

His display started from his photo inventory from his work as
a stills photographer in the new movie Gie, which is about the
student movement in 1966.

Based on the still photos, Timur, who showed his refined
technique, made a series of new pictures to pair with each Gie
picture.

For example, he paired pictures of players from Gie, who
played student activists in 1966, with 1998 student activists.

However, according to the curator, the picture that wrapped up
Timur's understanding of independence was of a student at Jakarta
Arts Institute (IKJ), sitting comfortably on a motorbike, wearing
sunglasses and a large piercing earring.

"He represents a generation with no boundaries, that endure no
pressure in the creative process. They are oblivious to
regulations, free, and don't have the need to think about
complicated things," Timur said.

Pictures of these Indonesian photographers are displayed side
by side with three Dutch photographers, namely Nancy Lee, Jeroen
Hensing and Jacqueline Gillbert.

Curated by Astrid Hermes, the Dutch photographers also
displayed pictures with the same theme: Understanding
Independence.

The Understanding Independence, on display at some photo
galleries in Jakarta last week, will be exhibited again as part
of "The Future of The Past" photo festival from Aug. 31 to Sept.
14 at the National Museum.

The festival highlights old pictures of Indonesia after 1945,
taken by renowned Dutch photographer Cas Oorthuys. On top of
that, it will also display pictures of the Mendur Brothers, some
of the country's early photographers, who founded IPPHOS photo
agency.

The Future of The Past
Aug. 31 to Sept. 14
Museum National
Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No. 12
Central Jakarta