Goethe-Institut - Blog Cityscapes - Jakarta

Family, Bingo and Other Christmas Tales from Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:13:08 +0100

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.
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Adieu Jakarta…

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:14:45 +0100

“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.

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These Boots Are Made For Walking

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:50:15 +0100

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.

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Jakarta's “Helm Peci”

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:32:03 +0100

“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?

The Expensive, The Independent and The Traditional in Jakarta's Fashion Scene

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 07:02:21 +0100

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.
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Thrift Store Aesthetics of Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:07:58 +0200

“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.

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Cents and Sensibilities in Jakarta - Not Everyone is Infected by Money and Greed

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:39:33 +0200

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.
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In Jakarta, “Tua-tua Menggambar”

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:34:22 +0200

“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.
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It's Not Easy Being Green in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:45:58 +0200

Back in 1965, 35 percent of Jakarta was green space. Today, this space has shriveled to a sad 9 percent.
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Jakarta's very own, Orkestra Odong-Odong

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:26:58 +0200

“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.

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Jakarta - Under The Stage Light

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:58:00 +0200

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.

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Jakarta: Culture, Art and Survival

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 06:59:10 +0200

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.
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Coffee's History in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:50:58 +0200

“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.

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“[If You Have It] Flaunt It!” Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:27:52 +0200

“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!
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Unity in Diversity in Indonesia?

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:03:25 +0200

Indonesia's national motto "Unity in Diversity" is nowhere more prominent than in its capital city Jakarta.
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Rooms of Superhero(+in)es of Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:07:00 +0200

“Built up – Heritage and International Style in my City”
We may be proud of our historic city centres, of monuments from the past. And yet, we see an ever more identical international style of architecture mushrooming everywhere. We may also chose convenience over heritage when we choose our own urban abode. Where is all this leading and how does it transform our way of life?

There is something different in my entry for this month. Instead of my usual picking of three contestants, we are having eleven. Yes. Eleven.
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Built up? – Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Tue, 31 May 2011 23:52:00 +0200

Lately Jakarta government is promoting various programs to preserve the old buildings from the colonial era. But, this program seems forced too much.

When I visited the district of 'old town' (Kota Tua), it seems only a few buildings are preserved. But the most of the building was abandoned.

The Jakarta government appears to be more enthusiastic to build new buildings and shopping malls that automatically make older buildings even more immersed in the splendor of fictitious city of Jakarta.
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Jakarta, Batavia: The Lost Jewel of Asia

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sun, 29 May 2011 07:41:49 +0200

Every time I have visitors from abroad who have never been to Jakarta before, naturally they want to do some sightseeing.
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Jakarta's “dari nol jadi pol”

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 04:51:19 +0200

April: “Bin it – Trash, Müll and Recycling in my City”
Some of our cities are drowning in trash, others fine their dwellers for not recycling properly. How do we as consumers and citizens react to the trash crisis so obvious in our cities? Which social implications are connected to the issue?

I present to you... “dari nol jadi pol”—a loose translation of the term “from zero to hero”, an initiative to push people to think about what they can do environmentally, economically, and ethically, by reflecting on their personal consumption patterns. Click to read further + watch the resulting video.
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Reflection In The Trash Cart

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:50:19 +0200

It is said that, we can recognize the life of a society by looking at waste disposal

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Jakarta - A City Drowning In Trash But Not Yet Lost

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 07:26:24 +0200

Sadly, Jakarta is a shining example for a city that is drowning in trash. Many of the rivers running through the city are literally dead, and recycling remains a foreign concept for the overwhelming majority of the citizens.
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While We Were Sleeping in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:42:25 +0200

“Sex in my City – How prudish are we? How much do you dare?”
How do people of my age meet, court or otherwise get ‘engaged’? What are the rules of the game? Which role do they play? And what does the family, our religion and tradition say? Which role do my city’s media play here?

Intimate questions call for unspoken answers. What's more intimate and trustworthy than letting someone watch you sleep and/or operate sharp objects next to your neck (a.k.a cut your hair)? Click to see the resulting video.
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The Price Is Left in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:32:06 +0100

“My year in the city - Work, Play and get out of here!”
What do I expect from this year? How do I structure it? Where do I find myself at work? How much free time does work allow me? How do I spend my free time? And with whom do I spend it?

In order to answer this series of domestic questions (and more) I devised a simple shopping game. So simple & straightforward, it could be done by anyone in anywhere in the world. Below are not only the video result, but also the game instructions.
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Taman Lawang - Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:51:55 +0100

Taman Lawang is a famous district of transvestites prostitutes in Jakarta.
This area is known by a fairly high crime rates. Lots of robberies and violent acts that occurred there.

This is a picture from some of the transvestites in Taman Lawang. I took these photos about 2 years ago and these photographs have been exhibited at Goethe Haus Jakarta with the theme ' Mendamba Tubuh (Desiring the Body)'. Exhibition that featuring images from photographer's perception of the female body and its reflection of social relations in society.

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Secret And Not So Secret Sex in the City in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:57:03 +0100

In Indonesia, the anti-pornography law that was passed in 2008 has caused much controversy in the past, mostly because it is very vague and open to interpretation. A painting of a naked woman is suddenly no longer art but pornographic, and "too sexy" dancing in a club can actually lead to jail time.

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You Are What You Eat in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (farid rakun) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:37:26 +0100

“Going Local - Neighbourhood, Kiez and Suburb in my city”
Do I take advantage of what my city offers? Or am I rather a local who only sometimes ventures out of his suburb? Is my city really just an agglomeration of villages? And maythis turn out to be an advantage for our citizens?

Another month, another game. What's the best way to answer the questions above other than using our stomach (look at other previous entries by other contributors of this very blog for confirmation)? Click to devour this gastronomical endeavor I'm offering you.
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Jakarta Suburb

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:49:47 +0100

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Going local in Jakarta through music

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:18:51 +0100

In a city like Jakarta where congested streets and heavy traffic jams tend to take away your whole energy, it is easy to become lazy.
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Heaven and Hell in Jakarta

nospam@example.com (Katrin Figge ) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:14:06 +0100

The beginning of this month marked my fourth year of living and working in Jakarta. Time flies in this city that never sleeps and hardly gives you a moment to take a deep breath.
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Jakarta : Here I was born, Here I grew up. Here I feel ,.....

nospam@example.com (Agan Harahap) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:29:16 +0100

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