REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, by: Shelbi Asrianti/shelbiasrianti.blogspot.com

What is the meaning of "The New Order" for this generation? Is it a success story, a tragedy, a mystery, or such a journey?

Once upon a time in our history, there was a dilemmatic order, circa 1966 - 1998. During those 32 years, Indonesia reached the glorious era, plus the gloomy one.

Soeharto, the former president, brought a lot of developments. Perhaps, it worked well that time. But it costs some sacrifice, also blood.

"The New Order OK.Video 2015" tried to remind us of that era. The international art media festival, being held by ruangrupa organization, at National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta (15/6-28/6).

The combination of 68 artworks from 73 artists in 21 countries displayed the different interpretations of The New Order. The artists brought videos, films, artshows, multi-channel installations, audio works, digital imaging, and so on.

They tried to represent the multi-dimention sectors at era that signalize the dictatorial power concept. It contains the social, political, historical, and media side.

The New Order often identified with the force of stabilization (read: less freedom to be different). Military was being the most powerful element to realize it for the government.

It described well in the artworks of Reza 'Asung' Afisina from Indonesia. "The ... is one of the great stabilizing elements in society" is the title of his video and digital imaging installation.

The video that played in a small television showed a young man that sang alone. With flat voice and expression, he sang the National Anthem of Indonesia and several nationality songs.

Behind that television, Reza sticks the collage of symbol-symbol of The New Order. Infrastructure development symbols, militarism symbols, also prosperity and gap symbols.

"I try to talk about national stabilization issue that always becomes the government's background to silencing the voice of citizen," he explained.

At that era, the main method to keep national stability is to control mass media. They who was born and raised at that era must be familiar with TVRI and RRI.

Those national television and radio station is the biggest media that always used to spread some government's propagandas. But somehow, people still being informed, educated, entertained, and feeling nostalgic with the media.

For example, the legendary program in RRI, "Saur Sepuh" drama radio. Everybody all over this country loved the original radio drama from Niki Kosasih that went on-air since 1980.

Jakarta Wasted Artists modified that audio-formed Brama Kumbara life journey into a remix artshow. Hauritsa, Henry Foundation, Mateus Bondan, and Mushowir Bing extracted and added visual things to it, so OK.Video's visitor could watch it as an exclusive movie.

Another nostalgic trivia thing is philately. Ika Vantiani dan Feranis, remind us with the collective memory of it.

Three digital collage they made titled "Salam Tempel Penuh Embel-Embel" represented the post office collection that produced in The New Order era. It's a critic actually; since they made stamps that written "Gerakan Nasional Gemar Berkirim Surel 1995", "Pelita V Sumber Daya Mesin", and "20 Tahun Gerakan Keluarga Berantakan".

"We assumed that The New Order government more thorough and enthusiasthic to insert their agenda and program in any form of post office material," they said.

That 32 years era has already passed, and being our past. But, it still important to see the trails and take lessons from it.

One of the vague historical events is "Lubang Buaya" story. Until now, we keep on asking and guessing about what actually happened at that time.

Mella Jaarsma, narated that mistery through her multi-channel video and crocodile skin instalation, titled "Lubang Buaya" or crocodile hole. That Indonesian artist didn't try to analyze or judge, she just showed that there's no clarity in that history.

"I made some interviews with 30 people from different generation and background about what is the meaning of "Lubang Buaya". Their responds showed the uncertainty explanation about that dramatic incident," Mella informed.

Artistic Director and Exhibition Currator of OK.Video, Mahardika Yudha, hoped that the event will make a new perspective to re-interpret Indonesia history in The New Order era. Even, so many things still mysterious and undercover.

"Nowadays, people all over the world be able to access many versions of history files, so we can redefine about some historical facts at that era," Mahardika stated.

(The author is the journalist of Republika)

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