Painting legends that have many stories

The adventure starts here: the unfinished murals in a secret room in the Old City. Discovered accidentally by a group of British and Indonesian artists in 2010. From there, over the entire year, these international, cross-profession, and multi-generation collaborators, consisting of British and Indonesian artists, historians, writers, artists, animators, game designers, and theater actors are trying to translate the mystery of paintings that photographed the Batavian multiethnic population in the days of Dutch rule.

And the result is a 19th-century detective adventure story that involves the lost myth of the Miss Jayang prince. The believable sword brings an infinite number of spirits to anyone who dominates it or becomes the guardian of the city from all calamities. Four enemies: Chinese defender, Arabic rompak, European nobleman, and Marsose Maluku are in enemy vortex. Are they going to drag Batavia to a disaster or even a city savior?

This "new style peranakan silat story" will be explored and presented with a touch of creativity and contemporary technology for the new generation of connoisseurs. In the form of art combination of video mapping projection, interactive animated performance, digital comics, online games, and interactive games such as treasure hunt event. This multibillion ingredient is no doubt a new experience in enjoying art and cultural heritage for the 21st century audience!

March 12, 2011, the British Council in cooperation with the City Government of Jakarta and Interactive Logic presents an interactive epic adventure Mystery of Batavia for you, straight from the Old City.

Glossary

Video Mapping Projection: Visual projections can be text, photos, animations, moving pictures, in any building area. Elements and textures of this field are exploited by the projection artist to get a new visual sensation, until it looks real and alive. Video Mapping Projection was developed by video DJs at clubs in the UK and Germany about three years ago.

Interactive Animated Performance: Performing arts involving motion picture technology, theater performing arts, and active audience interaction. The audience is not just a connoisseur, but also an active participant in the show.

Online Games: Digital games that can be accessed / played on a computer screen via the medium of the Internet.

Digital comics: Story images that are published, distributed, and enjoyed via the Internet on a computer screen.

Treasure Hunt Event: A game of searching and assembling clues to solve puzzles that lead to a goal: finding lost treasures.

Profile Harijadi S., mural painter

Harijadi Sumodidjojo, known as Harijadi S in the art world, was born in Kutoarjo, Central Java on July 25, 1919. His father was a teacher, a fan of mysticism while his mother was a farmer. When he was younger he became a member of the Brigade 17 Student Army in the Kedu Selatan area. In order to become this soldier, Harijadi use the year of birth in 1921, so that he is younger age.

Harijadi get first paint painting from artist friend and artist Sudarso. Then he started commercial painting in 1939 for movie posters circulating in theaters and painting portraits with Chinese ink.

His association with artists, such as Affandi and S. Sudjojono, led to the organization of the Young Indonesian Artist (SIM) in Yogyakarta, established in 1946. In SIM, Harijadi became vice chairman. But he decided to get out because the driver's license became too political. "They every day want to make a poster for the party. Can not be so, "said Harijadi.

Bung Karno started buying Harijadi paintings in 1944. And since then he became "golden boy" Bung Karno. Appointed to be the executor of relief construction at Kemayoran Airport Jakarta and Adisutjipto Airport Yogyakarta, also relief at Hotel Indonesia and Hotel Ambarrukmo Palace Hotel, Yogyakarta. Harijadi is also tasked to prepare for the construction of the National Monument History Museum (National Monument, Monas now). For this purpose Bung Karno sent Harijadi to Mexico in May 1965.

In Mexico Harijadi S. often talks with José David Alfaro Siqueiros a great Mexican mural artist. Siqueiros is a leftist realist painter known for his large-scale murals and one of the key figures, in addition to Diego Rivera, in the rise of Mexican mural.

In 1974, Harijadi with his friend S Sudjojono received the task of the Provincial Government of Jakarta to create a painting of history in a room of the Jakarta History Museum. S. Sudjojono was assigned to make Batavia's raid painting by Sultan Agung. Meanwhile Harijadi painted Batavia's situation in the period 1880-1920. The Provincial Government gave a ceiling of Rp12 million for this work.

The area of ​​the field to be painted was only 20m square above the canvas medium. But, being dissatisfied, Harijadi asked for a painting inscribed on the entire wall surface of nearly 200 square meters. The initial design was soon moved to the wall, the painting process began. But it's getting damper every day. Cat can not stick. Finally the work was not continued. Leaving the top of the mural as high as six meters is just a sketch without color. Contrast with the colorful lower part of the color.

The painting started from the left, where the lush natural setting with the troubled native faces sue: who owns this fertile land? Painting then captured the picture of Jatinegara Station, Harmony, City, Sunda Kelapa Port and Tanjung Priok, Chinatown, and Amsterdam Gate that disappeared was destroyed in the era of independence. Ciliwung was also captured as an important transportation route at that time, in addition to being a favorite place for girls to bathe. Harijadi also painted the evolution of Batavia's current transportation in a mural, where sado-powered horse, bicycle, simple car, and tram competed in the street.

The atmosphere of feasts and ethnic, European, Chinese, Malay, Arabic mixes that enriched Batavia were represented in Chinese bridal paintings. Also a dinner party decorated with slave music, various treats of the day, and native aristocratic relationships with European rulers of the time. The hard one maintains law and order. We can see hanging for criminals. Even so, anyway we can still pick up anchovy still roam in mask party and ondel-ondel.

Not to be missed, Batavia as an economic center is represented by images of fruit markets, pikul traders and wheelbarrows, barbers, and Arab merchants overseeing the supply of seafood. Batavia's economy continues to grow and benefit some people. But it also means misfortune for some others. The one caught with the eviction scene at the end of the mural on the far right.

The scene is like confirming Harijadi's partisanship to the common people. We can see this commitment to his other paintings. Harijadi chose to paint the panicked refugees against the backdrop of Mount Merapi erupting. That's just a portion. Compare with Affandi painting Mount Merapi erupting as the main picture, without human presence in it. "Since the beginning of my art work for the people, and my artwork is only to affirm people's aspirations," he said.

Even so, Harijadi is also an eccentric artist full of vitality. He is a race hobby and became the second winner of Permi TT (Time Trial) Race 350cc class which took place in Surabaya in 1956. Automotive collection including motorcycle brand BSA Gold Star and sports car Morris Garage TD. Both are British output. Keroncong fans who love to sing it also always appear dapper shod and Ray Ban sunglasses.

Harijadi also often appear as actors on the big screen. According to "Indonesian Film Catalog 1926-2005" article J.B. Kristanto, his first appearance was in the movie "South Storm" of the Capital of Film (1960) directed by Sofia Waldy and starring WD Mochtar, Ida Nursanti, Tan Tjeng Bok, and his son, Lintang Nugroho who was then 4 years old. He also acted in the film "Pickpocket" (1973) with Sophan Sophian and "Nyoman Cinta Merah Putih" (1989) directed by Judy Soebroto.

Beginning of the story

Painting Batavia situation from 1880 to 1920 began from the left side. This section illustrates the lush natural setting with the nervous faces of the natives.

Extensive murals

The area of ​​the field to be painted was only 20m square above the canvas medium. But, being dissatisfied and challenged, Harijadi asked for a painting inscribed on the entire wall of nearly 200 square meters.

Historic places

In the mural are paintings of Jatinegara Station, Harmony, City, Sunda Kelapa Harbor and Tanjung Priok, Chinatown, and Amsterdam Gate that disappeared was destroyed in the era of independence. Ciliwung was described as an important logistical transport route back then, in addition to being a favorite place for girls to bathe.

The cost of painting

To make this painting, Harijadi S get a net honor Rp5 million from the ceiling of Rp12 million. To illustrate the price of Levi's famous brand jeans is Rp7.500. If a dollar then is equivalent to Rp400 then the honor received Harijadi equivalent to Rp100 million more at this time.

Painting Initiative

DKI Jakarta Provincial Government took the initiative to add features of Jakarta History Museum with historical painting. To that end, they asked Harijadi S with his friend S Sudjojono to make the painting. Sudjojono painted the theme of Batavia's invasion by Sultan Agung, while Harijadi painted Batavia's situation in the period 1880-1920. Harijadi welcomed this task because he felt challenged. He also feels capable of painting large sizes, having seen the best mural examples while visiting Mexico.

The mural is not finished

The painting process began in 1974 with a series of in-depth research, including to find out what kind of punishments prevailed in Batavia at the time. After moving the design to the wall, the painting process begins. But the walls of the room too damp. This condition causes the paint is difficult to stick. And finally the mural as high as six meters is only colored at the bottom only. Meanwhile, the top is left as a sketch without color. Work stopped in 1975.

Where did Harijadi learn the murals?
Harijadi used to make movie posters and portraits. In addition there is the possibility of being influenced by the great Mexican mural artist, José David Alfaro Siqueiros, during a visit to Mexico in 1965 on the duty of President Soekarno. José David Alfaro Siqueiros is a leftist realist painter known for his large-scale murals and being one of the key figures, in addition to Diego Rivera, in the rise of Mexican mural.

Artist Eccentric

"From the beginning of my art work to the people, and my artwork is only to affirm the aspirations of the people," Harijadi said to affirm the bias towards man and his socialist realism. Yet he is also a connoisseur of goods from the capitalist country. Included in the collection are the BSA Gold Star motorcycle and the Morris Garage TD sports car. Both are British output. Fans keroncong and motor racing is also happy to sing this and always appear dapper shod, complete Ray Ban glasses.

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