TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in cooperation with Tempo Media Group launched a photo exhibition on social and humanity issues "Voice from The East (VOTE): Papuaku Papuamu" at Kuningan City on Tuesday, December 27, 2016.
Some 117 photos in 40 frames taken by photographers Rully Kesuma, Subekti, Toni Hartawan, Dhemas Revianto, M. Iqbal Ichsan, Dian Triyuli H., Frannoto, Pius Erlangga, and Amston Probel curated by Mahanizar Johan are being showcased at the event held from December 27 to December 30, 2016. The photographs were taken during a social research on the life of indigenous people in Papua. In the research, the photographers visited 10 districts in two provinces, namely Jayapura, Wamena, Timika, Biak, Nabire, Boven Digoel, Fak-Fak, Sorong, Yahukimo and Merauke.
Speaking at the opening of the expo, Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar expects that the public can learn more about Papua through the images featured in the event. "It's as if development is ongoing, but the development does not support Papuan local values," Haris said, while showing a photograph of a newly established, vacant building due unclear appropriation.
The event was opened with the signing of a photograph by Haris Azhar and Tempo senior photography editor Mahanizar Johan, followed by talks about the condition in Papua and backstories of some photographs. Also present was Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Adriana Elizabeth, Kuningan City communication manager Fari Setiaji and photographer Subekti.
MARIA FRANSISCA | YY