TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta never stops to inspire the art workers with all of its colors, scents, fumes that arise from the stresses, hopes, and dreams of its residents. Even the memory of the old Jakarta continues to attract artists to preserve it into various forms of visual art works such as those exhibited in the “Ruang Jakarta” (The Space of Jakarta) exhibition at the Building C National Gallery, Central Jakarta. As many as 44 artists from Jakarta and surrounding suburbs are participating in the exhibition that is being held until tomorrow.
The figures of Ali Sadikin -- familiarly known as Bang Ali --, the Governor who ruled Jakarta in 1966 to 1977, became one of the objects that is displayed. Bang Ali is close to the heart of the Jakartans since he had left particular colors to the Indonesian capital city through the protocols roads and cultural sites that he had initiated.
Other painting by Deni Septianto entitled ‘Jakarta Street Spirit’ presents Jakarta’s various public transportation vehicles such as Metro Mini, Kopaja, and wobbly old city buses. On the almost-7x3-sized wall, Deni also shows conditions of electric trains when people were still climbing on to the train’s rooftops and dangling out of the train doors. He also captured the untidy shacks built temporarily along the riversides contrasting to the shiny skyscrapers on the backgrounds.
An art installation by Hanafi entitled ‘Miring di Setiap Persimpangan’ (Tilted in Every Crossroad) is also attractive. Tens of black toy cars are placed on the floor, look like they are caught in traffic jam in a road leading to Semanggi crossroad. Semanggi road, which is always jammed, is pictured on the wall and ceiling of the room. Hanafi presents the current situation of Jakarta which is always have problems with traffic congestion.
There is also a painting that pictures the figure of new Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok). In the painting, Ahok is figured as a judge in a Chinese TV series ‘Jugde Bao’.
In his curatorial, Asikin Hasan said that Jakarta is “a city that is envisioned as modern, tidy, and beautiful, but it has deviated from its faith.”
According to Asikin, Jakarta is not an easy place for the artists.
“But it does not make them go and vanish. They hold on with every efforts both individually or with the community, so that it is reflected on their works,” said Asikin.
DIAN YULIASTUTI
