TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Artist Djoko Pekik sat with his legs crossed in his home in Bantul, Yogyakarta. Pekik usually paints in his studio near the Bedog River. He picked up his mobile phone and dialed a number.
Pekik then spoke to an old friend, Suhardjija Pudjanadi, a member of the People’s Cultural Institute (LEKRA). Both Pekik and Pudjanadi are members of Sanggar Seni Bumi Tarung, an art studio under LEKRA. Pekik teased Hardjija and told him to immediately prepare some clothes, a towel and soap. He explained they had a new joke among themselves now.
This was Pekik’s way of dealing with his trauma after the 1965 bloody massacre. Soldiers hunted down Pekik and other LEKRA artists on September 30, 48 years ago. He usually joked about this when he calls another former political prisoner.
Pekik often kids around with other LEKRA artists after they were released from the military prison. They meet during certain periods. Pekik described how some LEKRA artists in his life are suffering, yet some do not suffer as much. Some LEKRA artists have also managed to succeed due to the high cost of their paintings.
"As a human being, I don’t want the feeling of trauma to defeat me," said Pekik.
This veteran artist also said LEKRA artists must have high achievements in order to overcome their trauma by creating quality masterpieces. The artwork of LEKRA artists must be astounding. Trauma gradually fades away as artists continue to create. Police and the military then admire these artists.
Pekik also has another way to overcome his trauma. He painted his home military green. He said when he was under pressure during his time in the military prison, some soldiers still had a sliver of kindness in their hearts. Pekik even became close friends with some of the soldiers and police officers who guarded the military prison.
He was a political prisoner at Benteng Verdeburg in Yogyakarta from November 8, 1965 to 1972. During his incarceration, Pekik was under the supervision of Police Military Corp Commander (CPM) Moes Soebagyo, who was also a war commander in Yogyakarta. Moes, however, passed away three years ago in Yogyakarta.
Moes Soebagyo once told Pekik to create a statue in December 1966. While creating the statue, Moes often accompanied and supervised Pekik. During this time, a friendship formed and Moes told Pekik.
One day in 1966, Moes was summoned by Bung Karno (former president Soekarno) at the National Military Academy in Magelang. Soekarno told Moes Soebagyo not to kill the palace’s artists. If these artists are jailed, Soekarno told him to imprison these artists in Yogyakarta.
"Soekarno said creating an artist is more difficult than creating an engineer," said Pekik, echoing Moes Soebagyo’s words.
SHINTA MAHARANI