GALLERY

anugerahadiwarta.org

By Putu Wijaya

A new gallery has just been opened. But inside, there were not even one painting. There are only large television screens hanging on the wall. About every ten seconds in the screen appear a slide of a painting that can be examine further in a special room, just in case there is a serious buyer. “This way, every artist can have continuous exhibition. Their new works can be put on display without having to wait for another exhibition,” said the gallery owner.

In the opening of the exhibition, 100 screens can show the work of 300 artists. Each one has 50 works available. It has been predicted that the exhibition will be visited by thousands of people so the gallery had to ask the police to come, in order to avoid any complications. How wrong this prediction turned out to be. The minister who was invited to initiate the exhibition was unable to come, because he had to join the president. Only a small number of VIP came, and their absence was replaced with humongous bouquet of flowers. There were only a small number of visitors. The delicious food that was served turned out to be a waste, and had to be disposed of.

“This is evidence that people don’t want to watch slides, they want to look at the real paintings. The owner should have known the reason why so many people flew to Paris to see Monalisa, or go back and forth to Amsterdam to see directly Van Gogh’s Sun Flower. Reproductions and results can not replace real human labor. Technology can not replace people. A work of art is not something to look at, but to grasp!” a renowned gallery king criticizes the event.

After the failed opening, the gallery closed. The owner felt bitter. Many journalists came to find out, but the door just didn’t open. It turned out he had flew out of the country. A year later, the gallery was sold to another owner.

“A gallery is an oasis,” said the new owner, the gallery king who once criticized the gallery.

“Oasis always provides water for the travelers. Whether there is or there aren’t any travelers that pass by, the oasis still exists. A gallery is a long term cultural investment. Equals to other cultural objects, it is intangible. Thus the profit can not be measure with numbers. Without exaggeration, a gallery in itself is a form of dedication to the people, nation and country, because a gallery can ameliorate the image of society.”

In a press conference held in a five star hotel not long before the opening, the press swarmed him with questions.

“Is this a gallery of slides or is this a gallery of real paintings?”

“What’s the difference?”

“But you once criticize, that people want to see the real paintings instead of slides!”

“That is correct.”

“So now you are changing strategies?”

“That is correct!”

“Why?”

“Because, this is business.”

“What do you mean?”

“To do business is to gamble.”

“Then it is illegitimate?”

“Exactly.”

“That is against the law!”

“Business has a lot of challenges. Those without guts shouldn’t join.”

“Then you put yourself in danger on purpose?”

“If didn’t do that, the danger will come anyway, so why not challenge it so it will be resolved!”

“What if you went bankrupt?”

“You are wrong. What is illegal usually sold well. Am I right?! You are a journalist. Don’t be a hypocrite!”

The press laughed. The king of the gallery successfully dodged the difficult question. The atmosphere became warmer. Then the gallery reopened. This time it was astounding. Three ministers came. All the VIPs came. The visitors were countless. There were no left over dishes. In the opening night 100 paintings were sold. The event made headlines in many media.

“You are magnificent,” applaud the press that swarm the gallery king. “People said that the world is in a recession and we are amongst the poorest country, but how come many people buy paintings? Hundreds of millions were spent to buy paintings, while many people still don’t have any food on their table, and disasters happened everywhere? Isn’t this the same as teaching the people to dream, to run from reality?"

The gallery king smiled.

“That is the mystery of visual art. The art market doesn’t follow the common logics, everything is based on intuition. Lack of material wealth doesn’t mean that our soul is not wealthy! Paintings are food for the soul that is why there will always be buyers!”

A journalist made a joke about this situation.

“You are benefited by the situation. A fatal mistake made by the previous owner plus your daring act became an attraction in itself, that made this exhibition so alluring to the general public. But don’t forget, the death of about 10 painters who were part of the 300 painters supported by this gallery, is also a trigger. This is a bloody business. Will this become a trend that only after the death of a painter, then the price of his work will skyrocket?”

The gallery king laughed.

“To be honest, yes. But that doesn’t mean you can jump into conclusion that I have killed ten of my painters? Their works still belongs to their heirs, none of their work is mine. I only get commission.” A journalist suddenly asked another question.

“How much do you spend for this opening gala? “Two billions.”

“Will the commission from 100 paintings that were sold, cover for that amount?”

“No. Each of these paintings was sold for more than 50 million Rupiah. But I don’t intend to take the commission yet. I will let the painters take a full benefit out of their sold work, so that they can always be creative.”

“Then you’d suffer loss?”

The gallery owner laughed.

“My gallery doesn’t intend to acquire money, but to improve the image of our art world and our artists. An oasis can not be measured by how much money it made but by its existence. This is a long term cultural investment, a real effort to make the people more civilized.”

“Then this is an idealist project?”

“This has to be! As long as they haven’t ban being an idealist! Am I right?!” the audience who listened clapped their hands profusely.

But several months later, the gallery was closed again. The gallery king was successfully elected as a member of the legislature from a district. He now no longer has time to take care of “the food for the soul” for his people, especially not for a very long time that can be measured with numbers.

Jakarta, March 19, 2009

READMORE - GALLERY

DRAWING

anugerahadiwarta.org

By Putu Wijaya

The new instructor for drawing subject entered the class. However, half of the class benches are empty. He turned back into the school-office inquiring about whether there are less students interested in the subject. According to the report, there are 2o persons registered. If the drawing subject is not being attended, the problem might be due to the fact that the children were forced to participate on account of other classes were fully occupied. They do not want to be painters.

The instructor was not discouraged, He observed closely the five children who were ready with their drawing papers and several tools in front of them.

“Children,” said the instructor while smiling,

“are you ready for drawing ?”

“Ready!”

“Well. Now put down your drawing tools. All stand up. Do not hold anything. After that follow me outside the class without speaking even one word. Understand ?”

“Undersand!”

“Stttt ! Do not speak!”

The children were laughing while covering their mouth.

“Take care,. . No one is speaking again ! Ready? Now follow me.”

The instructor went out of the class followed by the five children.

“Where are we going to, Sir ?”

“Stttt !”

“But I took off my shoes, I thought that we are only drawing !”

“Stttt !”

Then the instructor give a signal with his hand that the matter should not be pondered. He invited the children to come along with him to the school-canteen.

“Pay careful attention, everybody is allowed to order one drink and one snack at prices that do not exceed 20.000,--, but choose a colour that is different from the one already taken by your other friends. Please !”

The children were confused.

“Do not be afraid. All shall be paid by me. Remember, the colour must be different from the one taken by your friends. If you are not fast, you will lose your part. Go !”

The children were startled ridiculously. Bu they wee all contented. They scrambled to choose according the instruction. Two children wee not successful in obtaining the required colour. They were forced to take what is only available. Even though they do not like it.

“Well, if everybody has already their part, please sit down, but you are not allowed to eat. Try to have a look at the food you bought. How many colours are there ? Have you ever seen goods that have similar shape or colour like this food? Pay careful attention to it for 15 minutes.”

A child raised his hand wanted to ask something.

“You don not need to ask. Do as what I have instructed just now.”

“It will become cold, Sir and it would not be nice to eat.”

“Stttt ! That’s why it is not necessary to chatter. Carry out my instruction” The children executed the instruction rather tickled. Just after 10 minutes a new command was given by the instructor.

“It’s enough, now you may eat. But eat slowly and finish it in 20 minutes. Who finished before 20 minutes, that means you have to pay yourself. Start now !” .

The children were all laughing. And then they understand that this was only a play. They started eating slowly while looking stealthily at the wall clock. They chewed slowly. And swallowed their drinks bit by bit.

Exactly 15 minutes, all of them were putting the rest of the snacks into their mouth so that some got choked down and felt as if they would like to vomit. All were laughing. The instructor invited them to return to class. They were asked to be seated and taking their drawing tools. “And now, try to recall how was the taste of snacks you have taken. Were they tasty ? Put your feeling in drawing within 20 minutes !” The children were confused.

“You do not need to be upset. No need to think about. Paper is in front of you and you have a drwing tool. Draw anything you like concerning your experience just now. You have certainly your own favourite colour, use that particular colour to express the taste of your food when it is nice. If it is not, than use the colour you dislike. If the food taste was too salty, you may draw the sea, since sea water is salty. Thus, if your are confused, you may just make scratches like a confused person, but do not talk, but put your feeling in drawing. So, start now before the time is over !”

The children kept silent but then all of them were busy.

“All right, time is over. Each of you step forward and show your result of your drawing. Others may guess what is your feeling when looking at the drawing. We match up whether your feeling at the time you are making the drawing is similar to the feeling of your friends if they saw yours. Who is going to start !”

The atmosphere became cheerful. A few students from other classes were attracted and came to watch and later on joining. Those who were also students of the drawing subject and once running away, silently returned and took part in giving comments.

The following week, the class for drawing started to be visited by many students. Those who were not able to make drawings do not feel tortured. Since there were so many participants, the instructor was not able anymore to pay the food. He requested them to pay for themselves.

The children have no objection in this matter.

The drawing class became more densely. None of the children were absent. They were not invited to the canteen anymore by the instructor, but watching video. He created a new trick with the result that the subject of drawing is no longer drawing, but watching, listening, thinking, feeling, having an opinion and at the end expressing with lines, areas and colours.

“The subject of drawing is not aiming at turning them to be painters. Suppose if among them became later on a painter, Thank God ! If that is not the case, never mind. The subject of drawing is a subject to see by feeling and intelligence and later on draw it in accordance with your individual ability through appearance. This lesson would be really beneficial in order to foster you to become observer who understand the meaning of appearance of an entrepreneur, official, etc.”, said the instructor during play time break created by him.

Entering the next semester, the number of interested children in drawing increased. However, the job contract of the instructor was not extended. The School management has considered that he had carried out bad education for he was not giving lessons of drawing to the children, instead dragging them along to be fond of eating snacks and watching TV.

“We are very disappointed. How can that be like that, after one semester passed, none of the children are able to simply draw an ellipse imitating a glass for example, which is daily seen,” grumbled the Principal who felt that his school was being cheated.

Jakarta, Apil 24, 2009

Source: Arti Magazine, 18th edition

READMORE - DRAWING

BRIDE & BRIDEGROOM

anugerahadiwarta.org

By Putu Wijaya

A man greets Amin at the road side.

“Fellow Amin, you seemed to be in trouble !”
Amin startled. He did not imagine to be admonished. Moreover, by someone he does not even know. Amin kept silent. The person who greets him repeated his call while getting closer.

“I understand why you are sad.”

Amin stupefied. He looked at the person astonishingly.
“Me ?”
“Yes, you are fellow Amin, aren’t you ?”

The man held out his hand. Amin did not welcomed directly. The man grasped Amin’s hand and shook it cordially.

“You are fellow Amin, aren’t you?”
“Right.”
“I don’t know, what made you in trouble, fellow.”
Amin got confused.
“In trouble ? I am not in trouble.”
“You don’ need to hide it, fellow, we are brothers. We have to help each other. I am not willing to see you who used to be so diligent, have affection for the family, willing to help people, How come, on the contrary you are not paid attention to?”

“Paid attention to ?”
“Yes, never mind, fellow, I understand. A man like you fellow, refrain from asking for help. However, I feel it as an obligation. Here you are, don’t looked at the amount, but my readiness.”
The man handed an envelope. Amin became more confused.
“What do you mean, Sir ?”
“For you. fellow ?”
“For me ?”
“Yes !”
“What is this all about ?”
The man smiled and grasped Amin’s hand again.
“Please, accept it !”

The envelope was put into Amin’s hand, and he quickly turned around.
“Don’t open it now, do it at home !”

Amin was captivated. The man got fast into a waiting taxi and went away. Amin was perplexed. He moved the envelope up and down. When he opened it later on at home, he was not surprised looking at the money inside. The shape was known already beforehand. What is surprising is the total amount.
“Five million ? Exactly as what is needed,” said Amin while showing the cash to his wife.

“But we need six million.”
Amin took his salary envelope from his pocket.
“One million is from my salary, I just received it, it is considered as loan and will be deducted from my salary.”
“It is an exact amount to pay the (house) contract and motorcycle installments.”
“Yes, but how did he happen to know what we needed ?”
Amin’s wife bowed. Amin began to be suspicious.
“Do you know that man ?”
“No.”
“How did he know that we needed six million?”
“I don’t know.”
Amin took a long breath.
“Strange. There are no good people nowadays. Let alone five million, it is very difficult to borrow one million with motorcycle documents as guarantee. Thus if someone gives you five million but does not know you at all, I doubt. Something is behind that money gift, we are not allowed to make use of it !”
Amin’s wife apparently does not agree with that “But he was just asking you to take that painting to Room Number 1818 !” Amin was shocked.
“What painting ?!”
Amin’s wife pointed toward a painting package near the dining table. As if As if Amin’s heart beating stopped. His blood mounted. He could not react for some minutes, he did not believe what he saw. But after that he caught the hands of his wife rapidly and dragged her outside the house while screaming loudly:
“Booooooooooom !!!”
Amin’s wife fell down due to that strong pull, but Amin kept dragging her while shouting, The investigation finished not long afterwards and the package was declared safely.
“It is just a common painting, there is no bomb !”
The citizens did not believe it.
“All of you stay calm ! It is not a bomb, I is just common painting!”
The officials showed them a painting figure of Nyi Roro Kidul.
“Yes, but don’t leave it here, Sir. Take it along !”
The painting was then taken along. But Amin and his wife get also included. They have to be accounted for the disturbance. He has been considered as to cause terror which disturbed stability in this area.
“Luckily for him if he got only beaten black and blue, by the time he is coming home there is only half left !”, said a very irritated neighbour, “let him feel it, don’t play fun too far!”

But unexpectedly on that very night, Amin and his wife were brought home, together with the painting. There were no signs, that they were beaten up by the Police. The neighbours were rushing again. They got angry why Amin has been joking outrageously. Amin swore that he did not play by no means. He truly suspected that there was a bomb inside the painting package. However, no one believed him.
“Thus, what to do now, are you going to deliver that painting to Room 1818 ?:, asked Amin’s wife the following day.
“Yes, it has to be done, the instruction was like that at the post yesterday, isn’t it?”

Amin’s wife seemed not to agree with that statement. But she cannot do anything about it for the commitment was like that.

The painting was delivered to the hotel then after being wrapped again neatly as it was beforehand. The hotel staff invited Amin to take the painting along directly to Room 1818. Amin’s heart beat became stronger. Moreover when he has to start knocking the room door.

“Come in, it is not locked.”
Amin pushed the door and entered.
“Close it again!”
Amin closed it and turned back.
“Thank you, fellow!”
Amin was really shocked and fainted. Because the man in front of him was the one who gave him yesterday five million.
“Please sit down. Are you surprised ?”

Starting to feel that something was not in order, Amin has no choice but to take a seat. The man just laughed at him when looking at Amin’s nervousness.
“Are you confused ?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I am confused too, that you fellow Amin would just follow my orders. What about if the content was a bomb ? Please, when you are going back home, help to carry along this bag to the lobby. Just wait for a moment somebody will take it up, it has been promised. I have to receive an important phone call first. Go ahead, fellow Amin.”
The man pointed at an attaché case on the table. Amin was terrified.

“Please, fellow Amin,” said the man shile giving a signal to take the phone, “Hello, fine, just a moment …, Fellow Amin please just wait in the lobby, don’t go by the lift, it’s dangerous, go via the stairs!”
Amin was forces to stand up. He took the briefcase while shivering. Without saying anything he brought the case carefully to the lobby, while praying.

“Oh, Lord please forgive your humble servant. Don’t let this bomb explode……..” As soon as he entered the lobby, a staff in charge is ready waiting and took directly the case. He checked it carefully, Apparently the contents were only empty papers and a letter reading : “YOU ARE A FAILED BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM CANDIDATE !”

The briefcase was thrown down to the floor, and they broke into room 1818. But there was time enough for the room occupier to run away.

Source: Arti Magazine 19th edition

READMORE - BRIDE & BRIDEGROOM