The Jakarta Post, February 02, 2007
Artists labor to change Maluku's image
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
In the hope of erasing Maluku's image as a conflict-torn area, several artists in Ambon
are promoting peace by organizing a month-long street painting exhibition.
Dozens of paintings from six artists are on display along the main Pattimura street in
Ambon. The images are dominated by peaceful themes, as if conveying a message of
harmony to the people of Maluku.
The exhibition, called "Peace Oh My Country", is spearheaded by Hans Ririmasse,
32, a former street painter. Hans now lives in Jakarta but his heart remains with his
birthplace, Ambon, which is still stigmatized as a place of violence.
He and fellow artists decided to open their exhibition on Jan. 19, the eight-year
anniversary of the sectarian unrest, as a turning point.
"My friends and I wish to change the image of conflict into that of peace. The
Ambonese should be disassociated from these negative perceptions," Hans said.
He said the idea of commemorating the conflict by holding a painting exhibition come
from his own experience. Whenever he met a fellow artist in Jakarta, Yogyakarta,
Bali, or Medan, they always asked him about the sectarian strife.
"Hey, Ambonese, how's your hometown? Are you still having riots there?" were
typical questions.
Thus he returned to Ambon to encourage his fellow artists to start painting again and
demonstrate their prowess.
The street painters whose works are on display are Victor Tahalea, Dedy Talakua,
Andre Dobbert, Billy Gaspersz and Victor Kewilaa.
Dedy Talakua told The Jakarta Post that Jan. 19 is a day of deep trauma for some in
Maluku.
Since that day in 1999, the sectarian conflict has flared sporadically and spread to
other islands in Maluku. At its height it was the country's most tragic conflict, with
higher casualties than the unrest in Aceh, Papua and Poso.
Data at the Peace Building Institute indicates that from October 1998 to September
2001, 18,910 people were killed in conflicts throughout the country. Of that number,
more than half, or 9,753, died in Maluku. This figure does not include those who died
in the later years of the strife. The violence continued until April 2004, although at a
lower level of intensity.
"We deliberately chose this day to launch the exhibition in order to revive the morale
of the younger generation so they would strive and work, through art and in other
ways," said Dedi.
Artist Billy Gaspersz displayed his work titled Don't Make Life Crazy, depicting five
religious figures dancing a magical dance.
Two of his other paintings were sketched on the canvas with bits of charcoal left over
from the conflict. One was titled Smile of Tomorrow.
The painting portrays a boy bursting out in laughter with his teeth showing. The artist
added a traditional boat as a symbol of Maluku transportation.
"I portrayed the expression of a Maluku boy which is so meaningful; don't make their
smile disappear," said Billy.
Andre Dobbert's painting Just Like Before shows how Maluku people once lived in
harmony and full religious tolerance as a model to the world.
"There was no such issue as Islam or Christian before since in principal we are a
family because of the cultural bond of pela gandong (vows of brotherhood between
villages)," said Andre.
The painting portrays two people of different faiths walking along the road holding
hands. Andre depicted a mosque and a church at the end of the road.
"I imagined the road being walked by the two people as a road of peace, but now we
live separate lives. A church in one place and a mosque in another, not to mention
Christians living in their own communities and Muslims in theirs. We have been
separated and no longer exist like before. I wish to encourage the communities to live
life as we did before," said Andre.
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