Writer, Unfinished Dialogues: di sini, d.l.l. at Museum MACAN, review for Plural Art Mag, Singapore

di sini, d.l.l. (translated as "here, etc.") is an exhibition at Museum MACAN that delved into Indonesia's intricate histories and narratives through a curated selection from the museum's collection. The title references the Indonesian Declaration of Independence, where "d.l.l." ("dan lain-lain") signifies "et cetera," symbolising the myriad unresolved issues accompanying the nation's independence and serves as a poetic reference, encouraging reflection on diverse and sometimes conflicting notions of locality within contemporary discussions.

The exhibition features approximately 50 artworks spanning various styles, techniques, and historical periods, offering insights into political upheavals, colonial memories, environmental concerns, and racial traumas that have influenced Indonesia's evolution. The exhibition prompts contemplation on identity, ownership, and attachment to place, acknowledging the ongoing nature of these dialogues in Indonesia's context. 

“As realistic as it may seem, this scene does not depict a real event—although art historians note a resemblance between this scene and Sukarno’s speech at the Ikatan Atletik Djakarta (IKADA) (Djakarta Athletic Association) held on 19 September 1945. Under the watch of Japanese troops, in front of thousands of people, Sukarno emphasised in this speech that Indonesia was to keep its proclaimed independence. Similar to what is depicted in Dullah’s painting, the speech at IKADA showed Sukarno’s determination to resist the occupation and called for Indonesians to continue defending their independence.” 

– Excerpts from Unfinished Dialogues: di sini, d.l.l. at Museum MACAN by Amanda Ariawan, 2023.

Read Amanda’s full review on Plural Art Mag: pluralartmag.com/unfinished-dialogue-di-sini-d-l-l-at-museum-macan/

About Plural Art Mag

Plural Art Mag started out as a student blog founded by Pauline Gan, Luke Chua and Usha Chandradas, three friends who met in art school while pursuing Master’s degrees in Asian Art Histories in Singapore. Art historians might recognise “plurality” as a term that’s bandied around liberally in essays. Here, it encapsulates their founding members’ initials (PLUral) and their outlook on art writing – embracing difference and individuality. United by nothing more than a deep love of the arts, a wicked sense of humour and a burning desire to simplify the language of art academia, they started blogging as a way to reach out to people who want a deeper understanding of Southeast Asian art, but don’t care to be mired in technical gobbledygook. (pluralartmag.com)