Refleksi Indonesia: ART|JOG|2014 - Legacies of Power PART I

A new morning... and the first day in Yogya... anxious to get to the famous art fair...a few distractions along the way but got there eventually.

This years theme for ART|JOG|2014 was entitled; 'Legacies of Power' with a focus on 2014, as its a political year for Indonesia, as Indonesians have just undergone the major task of a general election - a democratic process of electing a new leader, a new president, to be chosen for their country.

'Legacies of Power' endeavours to discuss democracy by looking back at the various types of power struggles in Indonesia. Believing that in order to look forward, one (being the nation of Indonesia) must understand the past.

Indonesian's have endured many disappointments over the years with the leaders chosen for their country. Such disappointment raises new hopes for the emergence of a solid and reputable new leader. Will 2014 be a turning point for Indonesia? ... *My fingers are crossed...my hopes (along with the majority of the Indonesian nation) lie with Jokowi. ;)

Anyway, back to the 'Legacies of Power' exhibition - was obviously timely in the month of June, to be held ahead of the election, which was held on the 9th July 2014.

If you happened to read my post from last year; ART|JOG|2013 - you'll know that this is a unique, contemporary art fair, exhibiting Indonesian contemporary art works from young talented artists to Indonesia's top well-known artists. This years fair featured 103 artists, with 97 from Indonesia and 6 international artists.

One of the highly anticipated annual art events is the ART|JOG's specialty commission work it features, which significantly alters the look of the venue; Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. For the past few years (from what I have seen in books and on the net, aside from 2013 which I saw with my own eyes), these commissioned artists have totally transformed the entire front facade of the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta. In 2013, the famous Iwan Effendi featured his 'Papermoon Puppet Theatre'.

This year featured a young Indonesian artist, named Samsul Arifin, who in response to the current theme of 'Legacies of Power' presented 'Goni Cabinet' featuring 150 human-sized gunny dolls populating the front facade and courtyard of Taman Budaya Yogyakarta.
The dolls were arranged hierarchically to denote a power structure, a satire on the people's representatives in the Indonesian cabinet. The dolls of 'Goni Cabinet' were displayed in a variety of poses and narratives, said to be presented as spineless, lethargic figures but with alert eyes...and that they were.

'Gunny' is inexpensive and environmentally friendly, made of hessian, which is formed from jute or other natural fibres. Gunny-sacks were traditionally used for transporting agricultural products such as; rice and potatoes.

Samsul Arifin believes that gunny is a material rich in history and character. According to the artist, Goni, named after the gunny-sack, is a symbol of purity and simplicity.

...Lets hope that Indonesia's future is also interwoven with this symbology; that of purity and simplicity.

"Goni Cabinet" installation - take a look for yourself...