After three years of spending this Eid al-Fitri abroad with friends and a country void of festivities on this day, I could finally go home and celebrate with the rest of the family! It feels great to reunite with the cousins, aunts, uncles and, most importantly, grandparents. Although, of course, as years go by, the festivities just seem to become less and less intense, much like one's birthday. But it was still great to catch up and have a feast with everyone - by everyone, I mean the cousins and their families, but not our own, apparently. My sister and I arrived in Surabaya, as you know, a week before Eid al-Fitri and spent our time roaming around town, checking out historical sites and such. But on this day, all the family gathered together to pray and feast. This time the female grandchildren - my sister, our cousin and I - helped out in the kitchen as well. It was a right ol' riot! Afterwards, we all did "sungkem" - it's a Javanese tradition where the younger generations go down on their knees to beg forgiveness/blessings from the older generations - and prayed and dug in. As the men all go to the Friday prayer, the girls took the chance to take tons of photos directed by my aunt. It was pretty hilarious! Then the grandchildren went out for ice cream to good old Zangrandi and the festivities were over.
This Eid al-Fitri, I thought I'd go a little bit more covered up and behaved than usual, but still with a little twist of my own. As I plan to wear hijab after marriage, I think it would be wise of me to start sporting one every now and then to get some bearings on the matter. It just so happens that a middle schoolmate of mine owns a hijab online store, Madjani. She came up with this pinless series, which is just brilliant! It's a scarf stitched on the side so it would like your everyday hijab but you need no more pins to put it on. Just slide your head into it and you're good to go - you can also adjust the length of the rest of the fabric so it's cool. My sister bought two for work, and I bought one. I absolutely love it! It's so breezy and soft, quite dirt-proof and - let's not forget! - stylish. There are around 9 colours to choose from and they're all gorgeous. I might purchase some more in the future so please don't stop producing them! Before you wonder, no, she's not paying me to plug her brand. On the outfit as a whole, I've never tried a casual hijab look so I thought I'd go with it. It turns out, I quite like it. What do you think?
How are you doing, artsy folks? I hope you are great this fine morning! Well, if it ain't fine, I hope it will be after you get a dose of this month's Illustrators Arise. In case you're not sure what this feature is, it is where I introduce my favourite illustrators from all over the world every month through an interview so you guys can read along and get to know them too. Doesn't that sound mighty fine? I hope so! Because August is the Independence Month of Indonesia, I thought we'd go a bit local today. The first time I witnessed this month's illustrator's works was through instagram and it was love at first sight. Her works speak volumes and her principles struck me with awe. Without further ado, let's welcome Giovanni Dessy Austriningrum, an activist illustrator who creates to change the world! She now lives in Bandung, amongst creative crowds and other inspirations.
Hello, Giovanni! Shall we start with how you got to know the world of illustration and why you stand by it?
When I was a
child, my parents always give me story-books to tell or read myself. I think
that’s when I fell in love with stories and pictures. As I grow, illustrations (and
visual art generally) always attract me. I joined art extracurriculars,
wall-magazine team, joined some drawing and craft competitions and always like
to draw for fun or randomly doodle. So, basically I just continue doing what I
always love.
I hear you went to National University of Singapore.
Why didn't you go to an art school? What are your thoughts on it?
Actually I
graduated from International Relations Dept. of Universitas Airlangga in
Surabaya. It was just one semester exchange then in NUS. Well, as many of high
school graduates, I didn’t know what I really wanted to do in my life back then.
Beside art, I like to read books and discuss so much. I love debate, in fact.
That’s why I joined Debate Club in High School. So, many debate competitions I
joined were held by International Departments or talked about international
issues. And that’s how I thought I really wanted to study IR.
But, eventually, I
realized that the dominant discourse and praxis in international relations
(both theory and practice) was much more about pragmatic politics, western-centric
developmentalism, imperialistic desire, and less about serious attempt to make
the world a better place. It is so exploitative that I begin to despise it.
That’s when I took art seriously. I think visual art kinda saved me from this
depression about the world and I learned that it can be used to spread ideas
and touch the heart of people.
I
think going to Art School seems nice. But sometimes they (Art students and
faculty) forget what is art and what good can be used of it. In Indonesia,
“Seni” comes from the word “sani” which means the honesty of the soul.
Nowadays, I see many art school graduates lied to themselves and become
corporate slaves (designers for unethical companies, for example). They don’t
reflect much whether what they do contributes to this exploitative system which
appreciate superficiality more than honesty, thus make them lose the essential
meaning of art.
What kind of material do you usually use?
Watercolor, gouache, colored-pencils, pencils, drawing
pen, acrylic, paper.
You seem to draw a lot of Indonesia-themed illustrations. How would you describe your ideal Indonesia? What should we do to achieve it?
Actually I like to
draw about good things that haven’t been covered much (or sometimes repressed)
by the mainstream media. Recently, I’m interested in the notion of stateless
society, where both individuality and community is respected, strong,
independent, and lives in harmony with nature. We can reach this if we start to
have consciousness of our existence within our world system and fight for our
freedom.
So, to answer your
question, with all the respect to our history and every possibility to change, I would say that my ideal Indonesia is where
there is no state of Indonesia.
You are also involved in a lot of social movements, especially non-profit organisations. What inspired you to do this? How can other young people follow suit?
Because I was
frustrated about how our society is trapped in false consciousness and I cannot
live in peace, knowing that many human-beings around me are exploited and
repressed in the name of “development”. So I wanna join the fight.
Well, with the
internet, you can actually simply search and start to browse which organization
or community fits your passion and interest. My only suggestion would be: think
and choose critically.
A lot of your illustrations seemed to be commissioned by intercultural organisations as well. How did this start and what is the most memorable experience of working together with them?
I joined some exchange programs and international events. It began when I wanted to go abroad but didn’t have enough money and savings. So I started to apply to these programs. The most impressive thing for me was the exposure of diversity. But now, if I reflect about my intercultural activities back then, I realized how it was typical diplomatic strategy. Many international events (unfortunately) are merely ceremonial; they don’t really want to make substantial change.
You once admitted that you are alter-capitalism. Why is that? What can we do to fight capitalism?
In my mind, or theoretically, I am actually anti-capitalist. But, in practice it is not that simple because capitalism has been the ideology of our age. That’s why for the sake of consistency I choose the word “alter” or “alternative”.
Like I said, its ideological and it’s not that easy to simply fight it. But we can simply start to notice and learn from our surroundings (people, environment), read books and contemplate, and discuss with friend about what we can do to make things better. I think the sense to fight injustice will come if you just let yourself to be fully “human”.
Nowadays many of the younger generations start to be attracted to and involved in the field of illustrations in Indonesia. What is your opinion on the creative industry in this country?
I think it’s nice how many people do art. But like i said, I hope people
would direct their artworks for the betterment of the society. For example, one
of my most favorite artist is Affandi because his artworks reflect his clear
ideological stance on how he see reality. In this country, this kind of artwork
is rare nowadays.
What does the future look like for Giovanni Dessy?
I have so many
plans. I want to take Master study, I want to continue drawing and explore
illustrations, I want to make a centre of grassroots movement with my friends
in Komune Rakapare, I want to make library, art and collaborative space, I want
to get married and fight together with my partner (damn, I’m romantic) . So
many exciting plans.
Any advice for new artists out there (including myself)?
Be
brave, be independent, keep learning, reading, drawing, and playing outside :)
A little note from me
The first thing that came to mind when I see Giovanni's works is the simple warmth to it. Her tendency to use earthy tones and warmer colours makes me feel like at home. Her unique style is second to none, radiating with friendly vibes as well as down-to-earth aesthetics. Through her works, you can see Indonesia for what it really is; from the villages and rice fields, not the big malls and borguise wanna-be in the cities. What inspires me the most is the number of works and contribution she's done for social movements as well as diplomatic organisations throughout the years. Her principle to create not only to make "pretty" things but also to get people to fight for a cause is simply something to abide by. Knowing she is actually the same age as me is quite surreal. One thing is for sure: I would love to see more of her socially conscious artworks for years to come!
If you thought our tour of the heroes in Surabaya was coming to an end, you’ve got another thing coming. After we visited Mr. Soepratman’s house the other day, Ibu Pur told us about H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto’s dwelling not too far from there. The next day, we naturally had to check it out. This house is especially special because, not only is Tjokroaminoto a beloved hero of our nation, his house was the place some of other heroes once called home, including our first president Ir. Soekarno, while they lodged there and learnt from him. After watching Guru Bangsa Tjokroaminoto a few months ago, I was highly intrigued by this house and wanted to see what it was like. It was the place where three great parties of our nation were first founded, creating drama throughout our history thence after. It just so happens, as well, that my grandfather used to lodge somewhere nearby when he met my grandmother. Location of their love story? Yes, please.
Bought ourselves "Es Rumput Laut" (Ice Seaweed) on the way...mighty yummy!
Batik dress (from an exhibition) // hand-me-down tights // DF Fashion shoes // Kmart purse (Sis's) // outfit photos by Akita + Cafa
Unfortunately, we went there twice and the keyholder was still away. In case you ever want to go there, make sure to ask for Pak RT Eko - RT is the smallest neighbourhood committee in Indonesia. The first time was before Eid al-Fitri, when I went with my sister. The second time was our last day in Surabaya, when I went there with the rest of our family. Thankfully, there were other historical sites nearby. We had to frolic through a set of alleyways, with civilian houses on the left and right. It's such a genuinely Indonesian experience. Surrounded by old houses, I felt like being traveled back in time. But at the end of the road, we found Masjid Sunan Ampel (Sunan Ampel's Mosque), which was built back in 1421. It doesn't look grand, although quite unique and wondrous. A man who lives nearby was kind enough to tell me that its uniqueness lies in the glass-blown calligraphy of the names of our prophets and the mahogany pillars inside. Sadly, I was on my period so I couldn't enter but it looked mighty grand from afar. Stay tuned for a couple more posts from The City of Heroes!
P.S: Sunan Ampel is one of the 9 Walis a.k.a. Wali Songo, the historical figures who spread Islam throughout the Island of Java in the 14th century. For more info, read here!
Finally participating in some patriotic activities this Independence Day! After four years of absence, I can finally, finally attend exciting races, contests and other get-together with the rest of the neighbourhood this Independence Day. Technically, I was here in 2012 but we were all fasting that not many activities were held. This year I am excited to finally get into all the action once again. Sadly, I'm no longer a child so I can probably only watch. But children these days don't play outside anymore so I'm not sure what to expect...
Currently reading...
Dari Ngalian ke Sendowo by Nh. Dini. This month I seemed to be reading a lot of Indonesian books - plus some magazines for travel inspirations. There were actually 3 Indonesian books in total but Nh. Dini is the absolute best. When I was in middle school, we had class assignments where we had to read her books but I never finished them, despite finding her style of writing and stories interesting. This one tells her life stories as an old woman, living on her own but still filled with tons of adventures. It opens my eyes to how badly our country treats one of the greatest literary canons this nation has ever seen. Planning on writing her a fan letter if I could find her address.
Currently watching...
Kyoukai no Rinne. It's been a while since I delved into the world of Rumiko Takahashi again. This one isn't as serious as Inuyasha, more silly and downright hilarious like Ranma 1/2 - which is my all-time favourite series. It's incredible to see how Takahashi-sensei's old-fashioned artworks and character designs mash together with modern Japanese animation features. However, her unique sense of humour and typical characteristics are still quite true to her style. I find myself rolling on the floor laughing - not literally, though. Rinne-kun is so adorable! Can't wait for more!
Listening to...
ハチクロ (Hachikuro) OST. by Suga Shikao and Spitz. My favourite tunes at the moment are Honoho by Spitz and Ringo Juice by Suga Shikao. I still remember when these songs are played in the series. Honoho is played during that trip to Sapporo Mayama and Rika took spontaneously together, where she is caught sneaking out of the hotel room she shared with him. The song is definitely Mayama (「マヤマっぽい」in Japanese), sweet and raw. Ringo Juice is the soundtrack of Hagu's tragic incident, where she loses the sensation from her right hand and cannot draw anymore. It has this sarcastic, almost masochist feel to it.
Thinking about...
Writing a book. If you don't know, I actually love writing. In the past, I've written tons of stories that may or may not have gone unfinished. I'm a lover of stories and I believe a great story-teller always knows which story belongs in which form, sometimes it's a comic but sometimes it's a novel. Actually, in the past, I've published two stories in two separate short story compilations. They're both in Indonesian. They're called Book of Cheat and Children's World, if you want to check them out.
Other highlights:
Most of July was spent in Surabaya, exploring the town. It made me realise how little we care about historical sites in our own backyard. If I had to compare with Germany, all the historical sites - no matter how ridiculously remote or high up they are - always seem to buzz with tourists from all over the world, but mostly from Germany itself! Although my experience with our less-than-famous tourist spots are quite interesting, it doesn't help with the region's - or country's - economics. We can lure people in with these sites - and still tend to them. My sister's boyfriend once noted, that Indonesia has such rich culture and history, yet our people prefer to go abroad to, say, Singapore and Australia, even though they don't have these two valuable things that we take for granted. If you're Indonesian, I hope you will look at your own very green grass before traipsing into other people's yards.
Read an article on female-only mosques in China, such inspiring muslim feminists! // visited W.R. Soepratman's tomb and laughing with my sister // spending Eidul Fitri with the cousins! // HAPPY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY! ♥ // loots from the holiday (bought too many books!) // in the zone at a local library // local snacks are the absolute BEST! // Firu & Visya LINE stickers are now available! // Wildwood Trilogy fanart (took 10 hours)
One of the places I’d really wanted to visit in Surabaya is W. R. Soepratman’s house and tomb. Back in Jakarta, the street where I live has his name as its name and he’s always intrigued me. Wage Rudolf Soepratman is the composer of our national anthem, Indonesia Raya, in case you didn’t know. To be honest, I didn’t know what his life was like and how it came to be that his song was turned into our national anthem. The more shocking truth is how very few people know where he used to live (and die). The first place my sister and I visited was his tomb, since the taxi driver seemed to know that place better than the house. It was huge! It was almost like a whole cemetery just for him. There is a courtyard and a flagpole in the middle. To the south, his statue stands in front of a marble wall with the lyrics of his famous song on it. To the east is his life stories etched on a wide marble wall, including some of his famous quotes. To the north is a set of purple, violin-shaped gates. And, finally, his tomb lies somewhat on the west, which is put a few steps upward. It looks like a bit of a Javanese palace with marble floors, where no shoes and sandals are allowed in. The tomb itself looks incredibly gorgeous with the chorus to his song and a violin shape filled with stones. Incredibly wondrous!
Asos pinafore // Primark shirt (thrifted) // vintage hat // Kmart purse + tights (Sis's) // DF Fashion shoes // outfit photos by Akita
Afterwards, we asked around for directions to the house of Mr. Soepratman. Everyone was kind enough to point us in the right direction, thankfully. We took a minibus/"bemo" there. The house is but a normal house, so it was located so deep within the neighbourhood, we had to take so many small alleyways until we finally found it. The place is always locked, though, unless someone comes to visit. The locals know where to ask for the keys but they won’t tell you, unless you ask. The groundskeeper, Ibu Pur, actually lives just two houses in front of Mr. Soepratman’s house itself, so she wouldn’t be too hard to find. She is also a very kind and knowledgeable woman. If you want to visit this house sometime, you can come at 6 AM at the earliest until probably before sunset, but during Ramadhan it would be best to come in the morning or day. The house is very small, consisting only of two rooms - probably bedrooms. It has many pictures of Mr. Soepratman, his old song drafts, his original violin and past plans to honour him. It has a tiny backyard with a patch of green - and nothing else. His story was so riveting, how just by composing songs he could get arrested and strike fear in the hearts of the Dutch. Such a way to fight! Alas, he had to die before he could see this country claim its freedom at last. Stay tuned for more heroic frolicking!
P.S: Can't you tell I was so happy to finally have my pictures taken in a typical Indonesian alley?
