people don't need contemporary arts of which concepts of 'beauty' are beyond their comprehension
whereas the artists need to create something that is satisfying both their artistic and conceptual drive.
CONSIDER
OTHERS !!! OTHERS !!!|
16:55 Screaming sirene slashing the wet air. An ambulance stopped just in front of the building. The doors were thrown opened, two girls and one boy got out of the ambulance. The lower part of their faces were covered with bandage cloth. Tied around their forearms were white cloth with the Red Cross sign. On their back, again, the Red Cross sign. The first girl dressed in black jumped out carrying a big rolled white bundle. Followed by the boy and the other girl. Hastily they split approaching the gates surronding the 'Gedung Agung'. 16:56 Quickly each one of them knelt down on the sidewalk, dropped their load and methodically unfolded those white bundles. People were getting curious and clustered around each of them, watching them. 16:58 As the white bundles began to unfold, there appeared many curious black packages attached in a row across the 13 metres long white banner. Here and there were some stuff people could easily make out. Sugar. Rice. Cooking Oil. Toys. Books. A Red Cross sign were on each one of the packages, black ones and clear ones. Many people gasped and murmured among themselves, wondering what this was all about. No questions were ansewered.  17:00 Now it has spread out on the sidewalk. They began to attach tens of wire hooks onto the upper part of the white fabric. Then began to cling each hook onto the gates with help from the people who were getting more curious.  17:07 Now streched a cross the long gates of 'Gedung Agung' are white banners with Red Cross packages.  Scattered between the aid packages were some artistic statements such a re-constructed map of Indonesia, an upside down hideous plastic doll with slashed red chilli across her body suggesting a slaugthered body, a crack tile with a woman's face on it secured with a Red Cross tape, a small children school uniform with a Red Cross sign on the back, etc.  The screaming sirene of the ambulance was calling. Securing a piece of artistic statement work attached to the white banner, glancing for the last overall check, the first girl ran to the ambulance in a sense of emergency followed with the boy and the other girl. In a second the ambulance left the scene, its wailing sirene trailing behind.  17:08 People began to glance around furtively. Some were inspecting the packages curiosly. Others were holding some packages possesively as to guard them. Anticipating. Expectation were building up. Waiting...    17:10 A welldressed woman just walked into the scene. She saw a package of sugar attached to the banner. With no hesitation, she took it, put it into her bag and walked away without realizing what she has initiated behind. 17:10 In a split second, people were rushing in, taking everything within their reach. Some took a handfull, about five to six packages. Others were satisfied with just one package. Some immidiately opened the packages and cheered in delight surprise to find new clothes, or books, or toys or food inside. Hurriedly they left the scene, securing their newly acquaired gifts from the anonymous artists. Some seemed to be ashamed and discreetly hid their packages or gave them out to other people. 17:12 All of the packages were gone. Nothing were left. Not even the white banners.   The street was abandoned. As if nothing has happened. Some people looked around, hoping to find something.There was none. Quiet. The drizzle was still pouring.  consider others! Whether taking things left unattended in a public space is an act of stealing? There was no prohibition not to take those packages; yet there was no encouraging statement nor gesture to indicate that those packages were for anyone to take. Except perhaps the Red Cross signs which suggested an aid for those in needs. Observing the recent economic and social situation in Indonesia, it is probably understandable to accept their reaction to a chance to get something for free. Because of their dire needs? But then again, many of the people who participated in taking the packages were not really poor as seen in their decent clothing and attributes. Take the lady who without hesitation has taken the sugar and thus initiated the rush. On the other hand, many of them were really those in needs, the target of this happening art. 
photographs: Arian & Wiwit thanks to D. Lukita & Soenarjo to top back to restless |
IdleDreams