Saturday, December 31. 2011
Family, Bingo and Other Christmas Tales from Jakarta
Even though I have lived in Jakarta for several years now, when December comes around, I am amazed by the massive christmas decorations put up inside the shopping malls, the many Santa Clauses that pop up here and there, the christmas carols playing in every department store, and the eager consumers that happily buy christmas gifts.
Continue reading "Family, Bingo and Other Christmas Tales from..." »
Wednesday, December 7. 2011
Adieu Jakarta…
“Rites and rituals - How does my city celebrate?”
Far beyond traditional religious and cultural festivities, how do people in my city come together and create that ‘us’ feeling? Do we celebrate with friends, family, the city or the entire nation? And what may make us happy?
As a farewell, this one is a tribute. Enjoy.
Continue reading "Adieu Jakarta…" »
Far beyond traditional religious and cultural festivities, how do people in my city come together and create that ‘us’ feeling? Do we celebrate with friends, family, the city or the entire nation? And what may make us happy?
As a farewell, this one is a tribute. Enjoy.
Continue reading "Adieu Jakarta…" »
Wednesday, November 30. 2011
These Boots Are Made For Walking
Ask any random person living in Jakarta what bugs them most about the city, and the answer "the horrendous traffic" will most likely be on top of their list.
Continue reading "These Boots Are Made For Walking" »
Continue reading "These Boots Are Made For Walking" »
Friday, November 4. 2011
Jakarta's “Helm Peci”
“Jam it - Moving about in my city!
”
Cars, trams, subways – or the bicycle? What is my city’s answer to the clogging up of the urban arteries? Will our own mobility be granted in the future?
Jakarta. Motorbikes. 'Nuff said.
This month, I collaborate with artist MG Pringgotono not only to challenge the reality in which art lives, but also attempting to demystify the stronghold of religious identity we see everyday on the city streets (and you still think I'll answer the questions posed above directly?).
Get further explanation by watching the resulting video below.
So, any thoughts anyone?
Cars, trams, subways – or the bicycle? What is my city’s answer to the clogging up of the urban arteries? Will our own mobility be granted in the future?
Jakarta. Motorbikes. 'Nuff said.
This month, I collaborate with artist MG Pringgotono not only to challenge the reality in which art lives, but also attempting to demystify the stronghold of religious identity we see everyday on the city streets (and you still think I'll answer the questions posed above directly?).
Get further explanation by watching the resulting video below.
So, any thoughts anyone?
Sunday, October 30. 2011
The Expensive, The Independent and The Traditional in Jakarta's Fashion Scene
When I first started working as a journalist, I had to go on assignments my editors chose for me.
Most of the time, I didn't mind, because I was always interested to learn new things. But there was one thing that I really dreaded: fashion shows. Continue reading "The Expensive, The Independent and The..." »
Most of the time, I didn't mind, because I was always interested to learn new things. But there was one thing that I really dreaded: fashion shows. Continue reading "The Expensive, The Independent and The..." »
Tuesday, October 25. 2011
Thrift Store Aesthetics of Jakarta
“High Heels and tight jeans - What is my city’s style?”
Long gone are the days when distinct or traditional clothing made our cultures recognizable. Fashion seems to have gone global and is being dictated by brands, media and role models. Is this so – or can a local fashion accent be seen and heard in my city?
This month is the return of some old faces, although some new ones also appear. These agents were once again given the task to, what else, spend some money + go shopping spree! This time around, the point is to prove how little amount of money needed to be spent by Jakartans to look stylish. Thrift stores provide all the answers.
Click further to see a video showing another batch results of this shopping spree, and what kind of portrayal it made of this city.
Continue reading "Thrift Store Aesthetics of Jakarta" »
Long gone are the days when distinct or traditional clothing made our cultures recognizable. Fashion seems to have gone global and is being dictated by brands, media and role models. Is this so – or can a local fashion accent be seen and heard in my city?
This month is the return of some old faces, although some new ones also appear. These agents were once again given the task to, what else, spend some money + go shopping spree! This time around, the point is to prove how little amount of money needed to be spent by Jakartans to look stylish. Thrift stores provide all the answers.
Click further to see a video showing another batch results of this shopping spree, and what kind of portrayal it made of this city.
Continue reading "Thrift Store Aesthetics of Jakarta" »
Thursday, September 29. 2011
Cents and Sensibilities in Jakarta - Not Everyone is Infected by Money and Greed
Of course, there lies a lot of truth in the saying that money makes the world go round. In order to survive, you simply need the financial means to do so.
Jakarta is no exception. But the city dwellers in Jakarta have also come to have a reputation of succumbing to consumerism, to be greedy and happy to spend their money on luxury goods. Continue reading "Cents and Sensibilities in Jakarta - Not..." »
Jakarta is no exception. But the city dwellers in Jakarta have also come to have a reputation of succumbing to consumerism, to be greedy and happy to spend their money on luxury goods. Continue reading "Cents and Sensibilities in Jakarta - Not..." »
Friday, September 2. 2011
In Jakarta, “Tua-tua Menggambar”
“Cents and Sensibilities - Money makes the place go round!”
Money, finance and the strive for prosperity are essential parts of urban life anywhere in the world. Which role does the need to make ends meet play in my city? How do different income levels define our social lives, the way we live individually, the way our city is put together? Is money really the ultimate factor for a happy life.
Financial reality bites: some loved ones (namely Cecil Mariani, Felencia Hutabarat, & Lisabona Rahman) are going abroad for education purposes in these coming years. They have no sufficient funds, nor are they too poor, not even coming from those “unfortunate” section of the country. Scholarships are not looking for these kind of materials. They are middle-class Jakartanians, by definition: the majority by number, the most-forgotten by reality. Continue reading "In Jakarta, “Tua-tua Menggambar”" »
Money, finance and the strive for prosperity are essential parts of urban life anywhere in the world. Which role does the need to make ends meet play in my city? How do different income levels define our social lives, the way we live individually, the way our city is put together? Is money really the ultimate factor for a happy life.
Financial reality bites: some loved ones (namely Cecil Mariani, Felencia Hutabarat, & Lisabona Rahman) are going abroad for education purposes in these coming years. They have no sufficient funds, nor are they too poor, not even coming from those “unfortunate” section of the country. Scholarships are not looking for these kind of materials. They are middle-class Jakartanians, by definition: the majority by number, the most-forgotten by reality. Continue reading "In Jakarta, “Tua-tua Menggambar”" »
Wednesday, August 31. 2011
It's Not Easy Being Green in Jakarta
Back in 1965, 35 percent of Jakarta was green space. Today, this space has shriveled to a sad 9 percent.
Continue reading "It's Not Easy Being Green in Jakarta" »
Wednesday, August 24. 2011
Jakarta's very own, Orkestra Odong-Odong
“Green Issues - Where is my city’s garden?”
Concrete, roads and high rises are largely associated with most cities. But we all enjoy the ‘green’ in our cities. Where can it be found, is it planned and can it be defended? How do we claim back what may have been lost? Where does my city get its food from? And which issues are invlolved in this?
What Jakarta lacks in authority, its residents compensate with resilience. Nothing represents this fact better than its notion of public space. Grounds are shifting, from ones usually associated with “playing”, into ones that go better with “battle”. For the second time, I collaborated with writer/urban artist/activist Rika Febriyani, to question the notion of open spaces for children. Click further to see the resulting video with a little more detailed explanation.
Continue reading "Jakarta's very own, Orkestra Odong-Odong" »
Concrete, roads and high rises are largely associated with most cities. But we all enjoy the ‘green’ in our cities. Where can it be found, is it planned and can it be defended? How do we claim back what may have been lost? Where does my city get its food from? And which issues are invlolved in this?
What Jakarta lacks in authority, its residents compensate with resilience. Nothing represents this fact better than its notion of public space. Grounds are shifting, from ones usually associated with “playing”, into ones that go better with “battle”. For the second time, I collaborated with writer/urban artist/activist Rika Febriyani, to question the notion of open spaces for children. Click further to see the resulting video with a little more detailed explanation.
Continue reading "Jakarta's very own, Orkestra Odong-Odong" »
Sunday, July 31. 2011
Jakarta - Under The Stage Light
Unwittingly, music is one of important thing that can make Jakarta people can relax for a moment from the daily routine.
Under the stage lights, we can laugh and sing together. For a moment to forget the hard life.
Continue reading "Jakarta - Under The Stage Light" »
Under the stage lights, we can laugh and sing together. For a moment to forget the hard life.
Continue reading "Jakarta - Under The Stage Light" »
Jakarta: Culture, Art and Survival
To describe Indonesian culture in a few words is simply impossible, because it is as diverse as the 13 000 islands this archipelago consists of. Narrowing it down to the city of Jakarta seems to ease the burden, but in fact, still remains problematic - Indonesia's capital city is as colorful and versatile as the country itself.
Continue reading "Jakarta: Culture, Art and Survival" »
Wednesday, July 27. 2011
Coffee's History in Jakarta
“Culture and my City - What goes up and what comes down?”
While some cities perceive the arts and culture as their unique selling point and an important factor in the definition of quality of life, other cities and their inhabitants seem to largely neglect them. What is it that my city sees as its own culture and how do the urban dwellers participate?
Jakarta's consistency in drinking coffee is unquestionable. From the very traditional form, into its current adaptation of the globalized “café” trend, we can consider it a culture of its own, complete with its evolution over time. Finding coffee physically intolerable myself, I'm asking a writer-cum-urban-activist Rika Febriyani to initialize our proto-intervention on this culture. Click further to see further explanation, as well as the resulting video.
PS: This is the first of following series, where I no longer have “agents” running around, substituted by “partner[s]-in-crime” instead, where I discuss possibilities of a topic, since the initiation stage of an idea.
Continue reading "Coffee's History in Jakarta" »
While some cities perceive the arts and culture as their unique selling point and an important factor in the definition of quality of life, other cities and their inhabitants seem to largely neglect them. What is it that my city sees as its own culture and how do the urban dwellers participate?
Jakarta's consistency in drinking coffee is unquestionable. From the very traditional form, into its current adaptation of the globalized “café” trend, we can consider it a culture of its own, complete with its evolution over time. Finding coffee physically intolerable myself, I'm asking a writer-cum-urban-activist Rika Febriyani to initialize our proto-intervention on this culture. Click further to see further explanation, as well as the resulting video.
PS: This is the first of following series, where I no longer have “agents” running around, substituted by “partner[s]-in-crime” instead, where I discuss possibilities of a topic, since the initiation stage of an idea.
Continue reading "Coffee's History in Jakarta" »
Thursday, June 30. 2011
“[If You Have It] Flaunt It!” Jakarta
“Us and Them - How does my city integrate?”
Most international cities are a patchwork of cultures. Some of those cultural groups may live peacefully side by side or with each other, others perceive tensions. Income and education, rights and privileges – are issues that determine the ongoing debate about what multicultural cities may constitute.
What does make better statements about your identity in our contemporary urban settings than brands? It's a force of unification, while also serving as one of alienation at the same time. Not stopping there, coming are the attack of the knocked-off brands—toppling our comfortable means of division over, sending us to unknown territories.
This month, I'm sending three agents to look (& buy, if they feel like it) knock-offs all around Jakarta, enabling me to create a series of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” faux-advertisement campaign. Click further to look at the documentation of the process, as well as the ad-campaign results! Continue reading "“[If You Have It] Flaunt It!” Jakarta" »
Most international cities are a patchwork of cultures. Some of those cultural groups may live peacefully side by side or with each other, others perceive tensions. Income and education, rights and privileges – are issues that determine the ongoing debate about what multicultural cities may constitute.
What does make better statements about your identity in our contemporary urban settings than brands? It's a force of unification, while also serving as one of alienation at the same time. Not stopping there, coming are the attack of the knocked-off brands—toppling our comfortable means of division over, sending us to unknown territories.
This month, I'm sending three agents to look (& buy, if they feel like it) knock-offs all around Jakarta, enabling me to create a series of “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” faux-advertisement campaign. Click further to look at the documentation of the process, as well as the ad-campaign results! Continue reading "“[If You Have It] Flaunt It!” Jakarta" »
Monday, June 13. 2011
Unity in Diversity in Indonesia?
Indonesia's national motto "Unity in Diversity" is nowhere more prominent than in its capital city Jakarta.
Continue reading "Unity in Diversity in Indonesia?" »
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