TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Sosrowijayan village has been relocated to an art gallery. Two artists have brought sex workers who interact with residents of the village. Seven series of photography installation art works of Lashita Situmorang depict Lashita wearing different tight and minimalist clothes on every picture.

She sits crossing her legs with a stiff pose. Lashita tries to use herself as a “rose” to describe her profession at Sosrowijayan Kulon village.

“I want to see how clothes can create values on the body of a sex worker through the artwork,” Lashita told Tempo.

The artwork was among other works showcased in the Red District Project at the Jogja National Museum in Yogyakarta. The continuous art project initiated by Lashita lasted from May 7 to May 14, 2016.

Lashita, along with Karina Roosvita Indirasari, presented various artworks, such as photography installation works, documentary, photos, and karaoke simulation. The exhibition involved three writers, namely Akiq AW, Bambang “Toko” Witjaksono and Sonja Dahl.

The second Red District Project depicted the Sosrowijayan village. Lashita witnessed good interactions between residents and sex workers. The art project was looking for new findings related to the life in the village.

Lashita said that the legendary village had stood for more than 120 years. Lashita made a documentary video depicting the history of the village, including its Flower Market, and how sex workers could live harmoniously with the people.

Meanwhile, Karina Roosvita Indirasari exhibited a karaoke room mushrooming since 2009. Many inns and houses turned their businesses into personal karaoke rooms. The shift had caused a different perspective among the people in the village. They see such things as night entertainment spots, instead of brothels.

SHINTA MAHARANI