Workshop: Art for Peace and Reconciliation

On November 27 and 28, 2015 (which is last month), I had the opportunity to attend a workshop carried out by Kelola foundation which was held at Rumata' Art Space. This activity was attended by artist domiliated in city of Makassar which comes from various artistry backgrounds. Not only from visual artist, there were also another type of art that they do, which are performing arts, movies, music, literature, and festival.

This opportunity itself was a coincidence for me. Previously, I was invited by e-mail by team of Kelola foundation based on the recommendation from an awesome guy I've just barely known like a month ago. First, I was not sure to come by because I'm kinda having some lack of self-confidence issue. But then after some consideration, like this activity is not open for public (I could say myself a chosen one) and then a friend of mine convinced me that it was a pretty good start, I decided to just go ahead eventhough I really have no idea who is coming. I even got there all by myself.

Along with the invitation sent by e-mail, there were a number of files contains the form of identity that will be filled by participant with two core questions:

What social problems you want to put as target?
What artistic intervention (works of art) that you want to do in dealing with these problems?

The questions are quiet simple. But on the other side, it somehow loses my appetite. I'm gonna tell you next time about my own ideas because I had no chance to explain to them. Or maybe I had, but I chickened out.

So, talking about Kelola foundation (www.kelola.or.id), this foundation is a nonprofit organization working in the field of art and culture. Both fields becomes their major focus with the hope that they can develop the arts in Indonesia so it can continue the living and be highly competitive in around the globe. Kelola has opened learning opportunities for over 3.500 artists from Indonesia through their program which is a cooperation with some international institutions.

Kelola foundation as a group is aware of the huge potential in the arts in Eastern Indonesia. But on the other hand, the region also experienced some complex social problems. Therefore, the output that they expect can be contained from this activity is a diclosure of explanation for some of the following questions:

Why the Eastern Indonesia region is very prone to conflict and violence?
What is the source or the core of all those problems?
Where is the position of the culture in this matter?
Does art have the potential to take role as a mediator, or even the originator of reconciliation in society?

With theme "Art for Peace and Reconciliation", the workshop that was held for two days was opened by Niwan A. Arsuka by giving a little introduction about the social issues that are currently happening around us with the ideas of reconciliation that can possibly be done. The first day was filled by sharing about the power of art in the public space. And then the second day continued with the technique of proposal writing related to the art project that has been discussed on the previous day and more detailed explanation about the series of activities of the project.

The social problems that are described based on the experience of each artists or any issues that interest them. Two of the problems are begal and motorcycle gang that once become a hot issue in past several months. These social problems was pointed out by one of the participant to be discussed together so then anyone could come up with the idea of artistic intervention that can be done afterwards. Sure, there are so many people who feel anxious by the presence of those motorcycle gang. We also discussed what is the thing that can be a trigger of their nonsense-appearance. Some of the answers are: they are in the searching for existence or self identity, the exaggerated energy surplus of the members of motorcycle gang that mostly are teenagers, lack of supervision of their closest people, and how those issue is closely related to media nowadays.  

Not only motorcycle gang issue, the other participants also shared their story which they experienced and felt by themselves. Like the story of one of other participants; he told about how the art—indirectly—made the brash behaviour of students in Labuan Bajo become devastated. He told that the students are given a special room in their school to express their feelings in their souls that has been overwhelmed for so long. Another participant also told their awareness about the issue of refugees, which comes with various factor such as war, natural disaster, and discrimination. 

And then, how artistic intervention (works of art) can be done in dealing with these problems? These question then becomes a trigger in where the social conflicts becomes its target. 

A simple example, for instance; Music. Through the music, several artists are voicing the call for peace. Music is used as a tool to touch the sense of humanity, universally. Probably, we are all familiar with songs like Imagine by John Lennon, Heal The World by Michael Jackson, or We Will Not Go Down (Song For Gaza) by Michael Heart. 

The first thing that pops into mind is the attempts to divert activities that can be trigger of conflict through art activities. This discussion subsequently gave birth to new ideas that are developing the basic ideas of one participant. A few of them are the idea of an exhibition of making sculpture in public space, involving motorcycle gang members, with the hope to turn their negative activities into something productive. The next idea is performing arts, with a concept of helping refugees to express and describe their problems. In addition, this performing arts is expected to educate public so they can understand the problems of refugees. The next ideas are to make a colossal theater, musical stage, and so on—which we expect can resolve the social problems around us. 

The idea of each artists that have been processed together will then be chosen to be accomplished based on proposals which will be submitted on the next time.

Of course, we hope that it doesn't stop at just the tip of implementation. However, there are processes that bring learning to the individual and the society. As well as the impact and impression that left after the art projects carried out. 

*this article is written to be published on Ruang Antara, with a little addition. 

The Last Movie I Watched

Last week I watched a movie called "The Little Prince". It's an animated movie which is produced in Paris. Based on the literature that I've read, The Little Prince movie is adapted from a classic novel by Antoine de Saint-Exupery written in 1943 with the same title as it is on the movie. Actually I rarely watch an animated kind of movie. The last time I watched such movie was when I get to accompany my little sister to watch Minion, and I was pleased.

On several occasions few times back then when I watched American Ultra, there were some movie trailers that will be playing on cinema. The first thing that stole my attention is the soundtrack. The music that plays along The Little Prince's movie trailers got me falling (lately I know that it was Gabrielle Aplin singing. No wonder why I'm so into it). Moreover, the dialogue pieces and the visualization got me curious even more. The movie trailer describes the turbulence of becoming adults, with heart-touching quotes. For me, to get to discuss the issue of maturity is a very complex thing, yet it's so quiet exciting tho.

That night I wasn't planning to watch movie. The only thing I thought of was a bowl of meatballs at the roadside stall—that I craved for, like a lot. After eating a bowl of meatballs with cold mineral water accompanied by him, we went on a trip and he randomly asked me to watch movie. (Well, he is a movie enthusiast, and I'm the one who's gonna decide whether we will be going to cinema—pretty much when I feel like it). As usual, I check the movies that is currently playing on the cinema through smartphone. As soon as I know that The Little Prince movie is in now-playing list, I immediately said yes—eventhough it was already a little late.

After ensuring the duration of The Little Prince movie (because I have to estimate what time I'll be arriving home), we then bought two tickets. First I thought that there will be just two of us in the studio. Because when we buy tickets, all of the seats are wholly unfilled. Even when we got in, we are the first audience that present in. We spent that occasion by taking picture of us in front of the screen. :))

Source: www.vulture.com

The Little Prince tells about a little girl who lost her childhood joy due to the demands of her single mother. She was forced to constantly studying in order to be accepted at the academy in where her mother has been wanting for all along. One day, after she couldn't make it to the academy entrance test, she and her mother moved to the other house. Her next days at that house are filled with well-organized schedule she's got to obey from the moment she woke up until the time she goes to sleep. The schedule contains the routine daily activities such as getting up early, exercise, eat, study, eat, study again, and so on. There's no activities such as playing or having fun that little child should be doing at their age. Every single day that she gets through are under the control of the schedule that is arranged by her mom.

One day, as a typical day when she's being left by her mom who's going to work, an incident occured. Somebody who lives next door conducting a flying-airplane experiment at his backyard. But the experiment failed, and it was causing a damage to The Little Girl's house. It was the first time she noticed the neighbour who lives next to her house. The Aviator is an eccentric old man. All the neighbourhood witnessed when he's being interrogated by police man. But they're all looking at him like he's a genuine weirdo.

The Aviator thought of telling her his strange desert tale, so then he setted the plan right away. He made a paper airplane contained with his tale and some drawings, and fly it toward The Little Girl's window room. She was studying at the moment, and then she received it directly. But all she thought about was it was nothing but a waste. So she just thrown it away.

The Little Girl who spend most of her time alone—as well as the man who lives next door, suddenly bump into each other. It's like they finally got companion after all the times they've been spending in solitude. The Little Girl came to The Aviator's backyard as he's busy looking after his obsolote airplane. She asked a lot about the story that is written on the paper airplane she once thrown. And just by that day, The Aviator spent his next days with the little girl and telling her his whole desert tale.

She neglected the schedule that is made for her for a while—she even deceived her mom instead. It's not that she's being brash. All she knows that she got to feed her brain with lessons she's experiencing herself. And yet she doesn't want to let her curiousity left unanswered.

By The Aviator's desert tale called The Little Prince, The Little Girl encounters a journey. She was immersed in the story of The Little Prince; a little boy who got lost in the desert after falling from an asteroid. She learned about the magic of imagination—and the sincerity, and so the good deeds. But one day, The Little Girl got pissed off because of the unexpected ending of the tale. She was mad, and not wanting to see The Aviator, probably for quiet some times.

It has been quite a while since they didn't talk to each other. It was a rainy afternoon. The Little Girl was with her mom heading to their house by car. How breath-taking it is when she saw an ambulance and the crowd in the front of The Aviator's house. She got off the car—not caring about her mom and the rain that is pouring by so heavy. She was keep running through the rain towards the ambulance. But it's already gone, in a rush. She felt miserable and couldn't hold the tears (and so did I in the cinema). She couldn't resist the guilt she felt somehow, and then she took a bike that she robbed randomly on the road and riding it under the rain towards the hospital. Her mom was dangling after her.

She wanted to help The Aviator, one way or another. She finally came up with an idea that the only person who could help her to get things right is The Little Prince. One night, when the weather wasn't really good—and while The Aviator is hospitalized, The Little Girl ran away from her house and fly The Aviator's airplane to an asteroid where The Little Prince lives. That asteroid populated exclusively by adults—as The Aviator has been pictured in his story.

The Little Girl had a very valuable yet astonishing journey. She got a lot of lessons from the story of The Little Prince. He pointed out the beauty of simple things that somehow grown-up people missed along the way. Something that just can be felt by heart.

Source: www.adeecodedlife.com

As her journey over, she returned home with stories she wants to tell to The Aviator. The Little Girl is accompanied by her mom when she visited The Aviator at the hospital. She presented him his completed novel—the one The Little Girl has thrown away the last time they met. He was pleased by the gift. The Little Girl then begins her semester at Werth Academy—as the goal she has been working hard to accomplish.

Summer Turbulence

October will soon come to an end, and the rain hasn't dropped in yet. The days which were passed during this month just like they were the peak of the dry season. But as the peak that does exists—there must be a way down, which is part of the whole steps. As well as ordinary people do as they're being endowed with common sense, we are only able to read the signs which are raised by nature. There is a sense of relief that appears when the wind started blowing, while the clouds seem to cover the face of the sky and the sun. Unfortunately, the rain is nowhere near to be found despite the signs that comes before. It doesn't mean the prayers just stopped that way. Hopefully, it would be rainy soon, along with the benefits that it brings to all the human race.

*pictures are taken by me

Unconditional Love

This afternoon I visited a donut shop with my two favourite man—whom I can spend a lot of time with. Like usual we spend time by making up a conversation while occasionally stares at our phones. We bought a few pieces of donuts with mineral water and two glasses of Thai Tea before we take a seat on one of the empty seats in that room. That afternoon was a usual afternoon. The weather looks bright. Television that is set on our left side played a reality show by one of local TV station, and we had time to laugh at the 'absurdity' of the show. Yeah, there are still programs that is served by media with the aim of entertaining people, with content which consists of general romance problems that occurs in the real world—which is not far from suffering and betrayal—and then they all get packaged in a program that is totally have no differences with theatrical or anything you could say that is. It's sad that we couldn't blame the stupidity they've been serving, because the fact is they still got market for such programs tho.

A few minutes have passed by, and people in the room began to come and leave. I lean my back off the seat and secretly pay attention to some fellows that stick in the front of cashier. I didn't really notice since when that old couple has been standing there. At first, they look like any other ordinary couple—an old man and his partner who was paying their order. The old woman was tidying the clothes she wore, and then she wiggled her hands just like she writes something on the air. The gestures she does seems pretty normal, until I realized that she was doing it over and over again.

Kak Didit who turned out to be the first to know about them directly talked about that old couple. It wasn't the first time they come there. Even when it get calculated, it has been more than three times he finds them there. That couple was sitting right behind our seat. They sitted face to face with two cups of drinks and a piece of blueberry donut over the table. With no conversation. With no gestures to each other, at all.

taken by me

I, who was sitting back to them immediately move to the other seat. Indeed, it was the silence which entirely fill their table. The old man sitted still on his seat with one exact style. He looked away with empty sight, while sipped the drink from the cup in front of him—once in a while. But never, even once, he noticed the woman that was sitting next to him—even when that partner of him—somehow—suddenly lay herself down on the couch.

The old woman returned to mimic 'while writing' moves, while the old man remain unmoved but his lips as he was speaking something. I was still watching over them. The old woman left her seat for seconds—back to her seat—and then she turn her head around to where the TV is set. Each moves that she was doing doesn't trigger any sensitivity of her partner to simply respond with smiling face or at least take a glance to see what she was doing. 

The view of that old couple left a mark on my heart. It has almost been an hour they sitted face to face, without any spoken words. There's a warmness, but I also feel bitter. It's how the silence could be the only languange they use to keep them connected. It's how the flaws couldn't hinder them to spend time together—just two of them.

I'm a typical person who could easily get touched just by seeing old folks faces. They remind me of my parents, and that somehow makes me feel blue. 

There are so many questions that hanging around my mind as I left while they still stay over. They make me realize how important it is to find someone you can confide in, just by having each other's existence. The person is all that left, when all the attractions have gone far.  

First attempt making $$$

Because one day, you gotta do everything all by yourself and feel that undefineable kind of pleasure.

That's what I told myself a couple years ago. I was busy finding out what I could come up with. Working on some works without expecting any rewards in return. I was just keep going on what I could work on. No hard feeling.

I basically was learning to do things all by myself. I ride my bike alone in midnight, I go the shop alone, either. No other reason but the fact that however we are gonna get ourselves ready to face the solitude afterwards. I remember that lines from The Art Of Getting By movie. We live alone, we die alone, everything else is just an illusion. :))

It's always nice to see people work on their own fields without being obsessed. I mean, isn't it nice to have something to work, along with the obstacles to overcome? Isn't it nice to get to recognize the passion you can't stand not doing? But afterall, you could still drive yourself well along the track. 

I was talking to one of my friends weeks ago about how her job does to her. Things doesn't always seem like what they seem. I eventually come up with an idea that once in our lifetime—while we are still young, we are gonna get to know how it feels like to be a labor. I once was, and I wasn't feel sorry at all. 

The harder you work, the luckier you get. 

It's been years I've worked on my hobbies whole-heartedly. I thank God that I could get the chance to know so many inspiring people that has the same hobby as mine, and build such as good relationship instead. For all the things that happens to me, I believe that it has all been written. It supposed to go that way. It just does.

"Find a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." Yes, just a second away until I talk about the money. Kinda light, yet too sensitive. However, we—human being—need to be recharged because we constantly run out of energy. 

"Don't think about the money. Just work on it." Someone was trying to motivate me while I was feeling so beaten up. I was running out of energy, for sure. There was my ego which play its role. For all the works I make, there was definitely the costs that requires. I spend hours until I could no longer feel my back. There were nights I spend widely awake. I sound a bit like moaning. Yeah, sort of. We can't deny that we all have these kind of 'desire'. That's what i'd like myself remember about—to always appreciate people's work.

The process was a bit challenging, but the result was definitely worth the effort. 

So glad that these client of mine needs the same exact style like one of my works. I was sick when I draw these piece of hand-lettering. For real. 

I don't know whether the universe conspires in helping me earn what I need. But everything seems virtually connected. Like, there are people I could ask for anything related to these stuff, like the proper price and else. This is not a huge thing, I know. But the value of family's happiness is way too huge. I once made money for numbers of times but never had the chance to give it out. My mom smiled, she took the half of the amount I planned to give her. "I can't imagine how if you have a 'real' job."

This is my first time working for foreigner. So glad that I could do the design for Recon Apparel Company (www.reconap.com) based at Arizona, US. Glad to see your works being appreciated. 

"Never forget how great you are." One of my awesome friend whom I barely known taught me. He said so to motivate anyone to determine the "value" of their works. Yes, never forget how great you are, but don't think that you are the greatest. There are so many people who is capable of singing, do graphic design, painting, cooking, and else. All we ought to do is appreciate what we got—be thankful for what we have born with. 

Still long way to go, ms. Shabrina. 

Introspeksi.

Seringkali kita menilai buruk orang lain untuk perbuatan yang mereka lakukan. Padahal sebenarnya kadang alasannya hanya karena kita tidak menyukai perbuatan tersebut. Menurut kita, “apa coba?”. Kita tahu jelas bahwa setiap orang memiliki selera yang berbeda dan cara masing-masing untuk menyenangkan diri. Lalu mengapa kita harus menghakimi orang lain untuk perbuatan tersebut karena kita tidak suka?

Saya dikelilingi oleh teman-teman yang sangat suka nonton film Korea. Sedangkan saya sendiri gak begitu suka. Film Korea terakhir yang saya tonton itu “Miracle in Cell no. 7” . Saya akui memang film itu bikin saya nangis darah sambil guling-guling terus habis itu saya moonwalk dari kampus ke rumah saking sedihnya. Tapi saya gak pernah tertarik untuk nonton film-film Korea walaupun katanya Lee Min Hoo ganteng banget disitu. Saya masih milih Donny Alamsyah kok. Bagaimanapun kita harus mencintai produk dalam negeri. Kalo bukan kita, siapa lagi kan? 

Saya bukan gak suka sama film Korea, tapi saya seringkali mendengar banyak orang yang meng-underestimate karya Made in Asia tersebut. Seperti yang kita jelas tahu, penonton film-film Korea di seluruh dunia di dominasi oleh kaum Hawa. Konon ceritanya, Film Korea memiliki kekuatannya tersendiri. Alur ceritanya terbukti magical sehingga mampu mengundang air mata diikuti dengan ingus yang meler-meler kesana kemari. Kalo menurut orang-orang yang memandang film Korea sebelah mata, pasti beranggapan bahwa itu cuma buang-buang waktu. Ngapain coba nonton film semacam itu terus habis itu jadinya ber-ekspektasi yang enggak-enggak, sesuai dengan apa yang ditonton? Toh hidup ini sudah terlalu getir. *asik.

Lama kelamaan kebiasaan menonton film Korea menjadi sebuah candu. Setiap harinya mereka menghabiskan berjam-jam menatap takjub ketampanan Lee Min Hoo lewat layar kaca. Lagi, yang menganggap Film Korea adalah ‘sampah’ pasti langsung bergidik sambil bilang ‘apa gak ada lagi sesuatu yang lebih bermutu yang bisa dikerjakan dari nonton film Korea?”

Nah, apa bedanya nonton film Korea sama nonton pertandingan bola?

Kita menganggap nonton film Korea itu buang-buang waktu, sementara kita mengikuti perkembangan Liga Inggris dan sekiranya menghabiskan hampir dua jam setiap pertandingan. Sesekali kita berada dalam momen saat kita dikecewakan oleh tim andalan kita yang mengalami kekalahan. Tapi kita sama sekali tidak menganggap menonton pertandingan bola itu buang-buang waktu. Walaupun sebenarnya rasa sakit karena tim andalan kita kalah tidak jauh beda dengan rasa sakit melihat Lee Min Hoo berpisah sama Susi yang dipindahin kerja ke Arab.

Yap, Perbuatan yang sama dalam bentuk yang berbeda. Mengapa kita harus menghakimi orang lain untuk perbuatan yang mereka lakukan sementara kita pun melakukannya, dalam bentuk yang berbeda?

Kita berkoar-koar memerangi korupsi yang dilakukan oleh para petinggi negara, padahal uang untuk kebutuhan kuliah kadang kita masih tidak jujur. Kita berkoar-koar untuk melakukan penghijauan bumi, padahal buang sampah aja masih suka lewat kaca mobil. Kita berkoar-koar untuk melakukan penghematan energi, sementara ngelepasin chargeran dari colokan aja masih suka males. Kita berkoar-koar melawan pemborosan air, padahal kita sendiri sebenarnya suka boros waktu. Betapa kita tidak menyadari bahwa sebenarnya kita adalah wujud dari perbuatan yang kita kecam.

Sebagai orang yang bukan lagi anak kecil, kita pasti tahu yang mana yang baik dan yang bukan. Walaupun kadang yang tidak baik adalah sesuatu yang menyenangkan. Tapi saya percaya sesuatu yang bermanfaat adalah sesuatu yang paling baik.

Kalo memang nonton film Korea bikin kamu jadi lebih bijak dalam menyikapi hidup, good for you. Kalo memang nonton Liga Inggris bikin kamu ter-motivasi untuk bermain bola secara lebih baik lagi, good for you.

Sulit memang menjadi bijaksana tanpa kedengaran judgemental. Setidaknya dengan itu kita sadar, bahwa kita sebenarnya tidak pernah benar-benar lebih baik dari orang lain. Serta alangkah baiknya untuk selalu memulai dari diri sendiri terlebih dahulu.