Colonial Era Gets a New Coat of Paint

Jakarta Globe, Katrin Figge | November 19, 2010

The Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis, known for staging high-quality cultural performances in Jakarta, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year with a big bash in April and an equally illustrious closing party at the beginning of this month.

The painting exhibition ‘Kota Tua,’ currently showing at
the Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis, features works
that offer commentary on Indonesia’s colonial past.
(JG Photos / Katrin Figge)

One of the exhibitions currently being held as part of the festivities, “Kota Tua” (“Old City”), is a group effort by students of the Jakarta Institute of Arts, which is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The paintings, on display on the second floor of the cultural center, take a look at buildings and scenes from Jakarta’s old city center, Kota, or as it was known in the colonial era, Batavia.

“Painting old buildings reminds us of the modern city atmosphere of that era, the life that colored the Jakarta of those days,” the exhibition’s accompanying catalog says.

“The structures that were built to cater to the needs of a busy city. Hotels, highways, bridges, floodgates, office buildings, harbors, train stations, marketplaces, hospitals, the governor’s residence — they were all built in the architectural style of the Dutch East Indies.”

Some paintings radiate a sense of nostalgia as they capture how Kota Tua’s buildings looked when the area was still a flourishing city center.

One painting depicts a vintage car parked in front of what is now Cafe Batavia, while another one shows a peaceful scene at the old Sunda Kelapa harbor.

Other works focus on the neglected state of Jakarta’s historic buildings today. These architectural gems of yesteryear now seem forgotten, standing as silent witnesses to a colorful past.

“The paintings of old buildings are interesting,” the catalog says.

“It is nostalgic and it respects the work of the architects of the past. The students of the IKJ are used to painting Jakarta’s old buildings from various points of view, appreciating their historical and aesthetic values.”

Some of the works showcased at the exhibition convey a very strong message.

The most memorable painting shows the old administrative headquarters of the Dutch East India Company, and later the Dutch government. The second oldest structure on Fatahillah Square, the old headquarters was turned into the Jakarta History Museum in 1974.

Across the painting, the word “exploited” is written in white letters on a red background — the colors of the Indonesian flag. The painting, a voiceless accusation, encourages the viewer to reflect once more on a time when Indonesia was still under colonial rule.

“The Dutch government has left a heritage,” the catalog says.

“The good and the bad of the government of that time is a reality. And so are the values of the old buildings, which still stand as witnesses that can convey a lot to the coming generations.”

While this may be true, there has been no official recognition of the old city center’s historical value.

Several master plans to save Kota Tua’s fading heritage have been drawn up since the early 1990s, but little has been done by the city administration to restore the area. Instead, the city is left with fading buildings.

‘Kota Tua’

Painting exhibition by IKJ students

Until Jan. 13

Erasmus Huis

Jl. Rasuna Said Kav. S3

Kuningan, South Jakarta

Tel: 021 524 1069