Saturday, March 31, 2007

[Catalogue] DI:Y Comics Exhibition




For those who couldn't visit the DI:Y comics exhibition at TIM, Jakarta (3-17 March 2007), or those who did but didn't get the catalogue. Here's the content: introductory pages (sorry for the blurry parts), short descriptions about all the artist, each followed by his/her work samples. There are some mistakes in my details; people who know me well can easily spot them.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Back to Bandung, Back to ITB




Fragments of our life since we started living in Bandung (February 2007). Some stories take about 2-3 pages.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Book Hunting in Amsterdam

What do you do when you visit Amsterdam? For first-time-visitors, a canal tour with a small boat, a cycling tour around the city and visiting some museums might be sufficient. Oh, and perhaps a sight-seeing to the Red Light District, for novelty's sake. Some young, rebel ones might also visit the coffee shops and smart shops. But if you're done with all the touristy stuff in Amsterdam, and if you love books, I can show you my favourite hunting spots.

Book Exchange
Walk straight to the direction of Dam Square from the Central Station, turn left where the white tall monument stands. Follow this Damrak street, cross a bridge that goes across the first canal, then turn left at the first intersection afterwards. Keep an eye on the left hand side of the street, you'll see stone steps upwards, with a front window saying "Book Exchange". Go up, go in, and you'll suddenly find yourself surrounded with endless rows of books, from wall to wall and from top to bottom.

If you look for novels of any kind (fictions, crime, etc.) then go straight forward and up the stairs. The books are alphabetically arranged according to authors' names. But if you stop at the bottom part of the stairs, you'll find humor, children's books and comics at your left hand side. Follow the stairs downwards and you'll get cookbooks, nature and social sciences. More popular science if you go to the basement, along with biographies and fantasies. Feminist and gay studies are also available. Dictionary, design, art and architecture books, books about movies, music and theatres are nearby the entrance. And there's more, wherever you look.

These books are all second hand, you can buy and you can sell, at a decent price (not too cheap, not too expensive). At least we could complete our Steinbeck collection at around 6 EUR a piece (paperback). No wonder this place has been an obligatory stop-over for English-speaking tourists, citizens, visitors, students, etc. who love browsing books.

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Book Exchange
Klovenierburgwal 58
1012CX Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 626 6266
Open:
Mon-Fri 10:00 - 18:00
Sat 10:00 - 17:30
Sun 11:30 - 16:00
No credit cards


Henk
This book hunting of course includes comics shops as well. If you go out the door of Book Exchange, go to the left hand side and walk straight down the street, to the direction of Nieuwmarkt. Just when you come to the intersection of Zeedijk (that's after you just pass De Waag Café), look to your left. There's a door and a display window with Henk written on it in 'Heineken letters'. Just go in if you're a comic books aficionado - and, moreover, if you're collecting (superheroes) figurines. Just be ready to be broken-hearted if you can't spend the right amount of dough for your favourite character.

I recommend this shop for those who like American mainstream comics and English-translated Manga (of any genre). There are some quality 'alternative' or small-publisher products, too, from the US, UK and EU. The shop is so snug and full you can even drool without anybody noticing (just wipe it quick - but not on that Batman's cape, you nuts).

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Henk - The Comic & Manga Store
Zeedijk 136
1012 BC Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 421 3688
E: shop@comics.nl
W: http://www.comics.nl/
Open:
Mon-Sat 11:00 - 18:00
Thu 11:00 - 21:00
Sun 12:00 - 18:00


The New English Bookshop
If we're done with our business in this frivolous district (books, Chinese food eating and shopping, or whatever you do here), shall we move on to our next target? From Henk, or De Waag, walk along the street towards the Book Exchange, and go straight. If you go right at the first intersection after Book Exchange, you'll find yourself walking to Dam Square (where Madame Tussaud's Museum, The Royal Palace and The Cathedral are).

But if you ignore the intersection and keep going forward, picking always the right hand side of the street, you'll eventually find yourself walking across Hotel de l'Europe (quite posh, this one). Keep walking until the bridge over a canal, cross it, then cross the big street to the direction of Muntplein/Munttoren. Before reaching the Munt Tower (don't cross that other street), look across your right shoulder. There it is: The New English Bookshop.

This shop is quite a good choice if you're looking for presents; especially for children's books and cook books. They sell travel books as well, along with stationaries and cutie-putie gift-books. I've scored a lot of sticker- and activity-books here, as well as CD-books for kids. Even comics! They have novels and fiction, too, and some art/ design/ architecture/ gardening/ yoga books. Their products are new, but are sold at very steep prices. I don't know how they do that (I was told that what they sell are what are left at warehouses).

There's another one of this shop, down Leidsestraat.

The New English Bookshop
Lauriergracht 71
Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 626 4230
Open on Sundays, too.


De Slegte
Alright, The New English Bookshop is actually down the Kalverstraat. Kalverstraat is a street full of shops that starts from in front of the Central Station - walk straight this street and you'll arrive at Muntplein. But if you're at The New English Bookshop, then walk up to the direction of the Central Station (get it?).

You'll pass by some interesting spots but we'll discuss that later. Anyway, there's this big bookshop called De Slegte at the left hand side (if you walk towards Central Station). It's a chain bookshop that you can find in big cities in The Netherlands. Books here are mostly in Dutch although quite plenty are in English - and also at a bargain price, new and second hand (but not the antiques). There are three stories of goodness-on-prints-and-papers, so be prepared to spend half-a-day in here (or perhaps a full day, for this shop was renovated into a bigger, cozier place).

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De Slegte
Kalverstraat 48-52
1012 PE Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 622 5933
F: +31 (0)20 624 1620
E: info@deslegte.nl
W: http://www.deslegte.nl
Open:
Mon 11:00 - 18:00
Tue-Fri 9:30 - 18:00 (Thu to 21:00)
Sat 9:30 - 18:00


Waterstone's
It's fine if you want to skip De Slegte, especially if you don't read too much Dutch. So, from The New English Bookshop nearby Munttoren, walk along Kalverstraat to the direction of Central Station. You will soon come across an intersection that goes to Spui if you turn left. Hold on there, I know there are lots of cafés at Spui that can lure you to immediately take a drink or two in one. You can't miss this one: Waterstone's in all its Briton properness. Tidy arrangements, darkish interior elements, expensive.

I'm just glad that they have this regular "2 for 3" offer: buy 3 books and you get one (the cheapest) free. The selections change periodically, mixed between old and new books. It's almost always the case that, every time I shop there, I buy no other books but the ones that are included in this offer. Here's giving you a picture: each paperback costs around 18 EUR - so if you buy 3 paperbacks of the same price, than each will cost 12 EUR. Still expensive, but what the hey. Oh, and I like their black plastic bag with a variety of quotations (printed in gold) on it :)

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Waterstone's

Kalverstraat 152
1012XE Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 638 3821
E: enquiries@amsterdam.waterstones.com
W: http://www.waterstones.com
Open:
Sun 11:00 - 18:00
Mon 10:00 - 18:00
Tue-Wed 09:30 - 18:00
Thu 09:30 - 21:00
Fri 09:30 - 18:00
Sat 10:00 - 18:30

American Book Center

Just in case nothing of the "3 for 2" selections at Waterston's suits you, just walk to the direction of Spui. I think you can see it already at the corner of the square: the new venue of American Book Center (they moved from Kalverstraat in the end of 2006). I have been into their old shop lots of time, but only been once into this new one.

There's a discount card that is valid for one year and gives you 10% off every time you shop, costing - correct me if I'm wrong - about 15 EUR. I got my money back quite quickly, for they also have a good and complete selection of new comics and paperbacks. I promised myself I would explore the new shop at Spui from end to end, once I got the chance to go to Amsterdam again.

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American Book Center
Spui 12
1012 XA Amsterdam
T:+31 (0)20 625 55 37
F:+31 (0)20 624 80 42
E: info@abc.nl
W: http://www.abc.nl
GPS coordinates: lat - long: 52.369 , 4.889
Open:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 10h00 - 20h00
Thursday 10h00 - 21h00
Friday, Saturday 10h00 - 20h00
Sunday 11h00 - 18h30
Our ABC Move Blog gives you information on the move from the Kalverstraat to the Spui.


Scheltema
Scouring books in this Spui area never ends. Across the American Book Center, there's more interesting bookshops like Atheneum, that has an extensive selection of magazines (Spui 14-16, 1012 XA Amsterdam, T: +31 (0)20 622 6248). But let's just walk to the direction of Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market), and turn right at Koningsplein. Walk a bit down and stop before the first bridge. You'll find yourself in front of Scheltema, a chain bookshop in The Netherlands (but with different names in other cities). This one is huge and it has a tiny cafe that looks more like a small living room with a counter, coffee tables and seats. However, I don't think it's too cozy to linger there, sitting and drinking.

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Scheltema
Koningsplein 20
1017 BB Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 523 1411
F: +31 (0)20 622 7684
W: http://www.scheltema.nl


Lambiek

Out of Scheltema, turn right and walk down Leidsestraat, a street full of shops at its left and right (your shoe-holic friends might get frantic here). When you reach Prinsengracht canal, walk on a bit down. On the right hand side you'll see another New English Bookstore (same as the one at Kalverstraat), just before an intersection of Kerkstraat. Turn left at the intersection and look for number 132, situated on your right hand side.

If you think I'm saving the best for last, you're right. I've written a lengthy article concerning this shop/gallery/antiquariaat here: http://komik.multiply.com/journal/item/6 (in Indonesian). In short, I highly recommend this shop for those looking for comics other than mainstreams, Dutch and European comics, original prints, long-forgotten-hidden publications of graphic works and whatnot (surprise yourself). They start selling gimmicks, too, such as figurines (mainly characters from Belgian or France artists), T-shirt and buttons (originally Dutch, people!).

The counter at the front provides a shelf mainly for Xeroxed comics, another shelf contains DVDs and magazines. At the lower part and in the cupboard across are rows of second hand comics and magazines. People here know what they're talking about (concerning comics), so feel free to inquire what you want, what you need.

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Lambiek
Kerkstraat 132
1017 GP Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 626 7543
F: +31 (0)20 620 6372
E: lambiek@lambiek.net
W: http://www.lambiek.net
Open:
Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00
Sat 11:00-17:00
Sun 13:00-17:00

There are of course more bookshops and book-marketplaces worth visiting, such as Architect & Natura for people who look for books relevant to architecture, landscape architecture and gardening, some antique bookshops and marketplaces that abandon their 2nd-hand books that are not sold (so you can just pick them up for free!) - but this is my list so far. Happy hunting!

Kompetisi: Mengomikkan Lagu2 SO7




Menyambut Satu Dekade Komik Indonesia

Konde! dan SO7 management menyelenggarakan

SO7's Songs Comics Festival




Intro


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tersusun (juktaposisi) antar panel/ frame, juga pada aspek cerita yang sedang

disampaikan.



Reff

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dengan tetap menjaga kesetiaannya pada tema lirik



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Ketentuan Teknis dan Kepesertaan


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Didukung Oleh:

Akademi Samali - Sequen - Cergam - Comforta Spring Bed

Wizard Indonesia - Anime Insider - DAR Mizan

'Oh, you'll get the 1000 from me..'


To anyone who keeps track of my legalization business (here's the previous entry).

After acquiring confirmations from an authorized personel at DisDuk, I proceed to PN again yesterday (Monday) morning. It's so early that Bu Mm wasn't there yet. Here's my chance. I told one of the two officers who were already hanging there to process my request. He accepted my documents: original and copies, and told me to come back after lunch hour because that morning they got an inspection visit from the High Court.
On my way out, just when I put one foot in an angkot, Bu Mm came in a becak. "Hey, where're you going? Is your business done here?" she called. "Yes! All taken care of!" I shouted back and waved.

I came back at one a clock. There was Bu Mm again, behind her desk, summoning me to come and sit accross her. I explained what the personel at DisDuk told me, and she listened, nodding her head. "See, this is why you should make sure first. Then we can get the information, too!". What, I thought, you - government institutions - don't inform each other about the coordination of your laws and I am the one who should confirm, going back and forth to your offices?! Anyway..
The staff who took care of my documents turned up and gave them to me. It turned out that I only got the legalization of the copies of my documents. But (of course) no legalization or letter of recognition of our marriage, yet. In order to acquire the latter, I have to make an application letter.

"Fine", I said, "I'll make it now and come back tomorrow with the letter". But a female staff (Bu Im - Bu Mm is already out of the picture now) said that this letter should be made properly and according to court rules. "Do you have an example, or a form, that I can imitate?" I asked. "No, because your case is rare", she continued, "Let's let one of our staffs work on it. You only need to give him a tip". Seems like I didn't have any choice here but let them do it. I was told to come back the next day.

That was today, Tuesday, at 10:00. Bu Im saw me and came to me with the application letter. It does look official (but not impressive). I need to put a 'meterai' (stamp) and sign the letter. Then the application letter and a copy had to be approved by the head of their division (Perdata section). In the meantime, I need to put meterai on all the copied documents (passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.) and have these meterai-on-copies legalized by the post office, too - the big one in Alun-alun.

It took two angkots and a length of walk along Asia Afrika Street until I reached the big post office. Surprisingly the business here went well. I just had to buy the meterai at one of the front counters (6000 IDR each), while asking the officer about legalization. I followed his direction: I went to the back part of the counters and looked for Pak Asep. There he was, behind his desk, and he understood the procedure. I sticked one meterai on each copy, then he gave at least 3 'stempel's and his own signature on each meterai. No extra charge; I just left after saying "Thank you".

It was around 11:30 when I returned to PN. I handed over my documents back to Bu Im, who then wrote a receipt (ah! kuitansi does exist!) while saying that I had to pay 10.000 IDR for the folder and 265.000 for applying this case to court.
[About the folder: it is common here that everytime you apply something to a public service office, you'll have to buy a folder that contains forms, etc. The price varies: one manila folder from DisDuk costs 3000 IDR, one at KanIm costs 5000 IDR, a folder for nationality application at HukHAM costs 50.000 IDR. There's never any receipt for this.]

I paid the 265.000 IDR already at the 'cashier' desk, next to where Bu Im wrote the receipt. Then Bu Im handed it to the cashier lady, who then handed it to me. I asked, "It's written here 259.000 IDR. There's 6000 IDR difference. Where does it go?". The cashier answered loudly so Bu Im could hear it, too, "That's for our archive fee. It's 5000 IDR. Didn't Bu Im tell you?". "No. But that's OK. And what about the 1000 IDR?". "Oh, you'll get that from me", she said, while looking for this small change from her wallet and gave it to me. What the.. ?!!

Is anyone here as confused as I was am? :D I said thanks and left, for all I need to do now is wait for an invitation from the court (in about two weeks, Bu Im said). I'm sure there will be more vague accounting from my side one after another. But nevermind, the world is a funny place.

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The infamous receipt










Saturday, March 24, 2007

In Demand: Totto Chan's Tomoe Gakuen


Among the first things I worried about, during the process of moving back to Indonesia, was finding a school for our kids. A decent school in Bandung that they enjoy going to, that doesn't stress them out, that provides a pleasant learning environment. What I've heard so far, during my search, hasn't been satisfactory. Contradicting opinions always came up whenever we were considering upon one school after another.

Until the first days after our arrival in Bandung, I still had no clue where to start. Public schools are automatically out of count, because Dhanu and Lindri, being foreigners, are not entitled to enrol into one. International schools are also out of the question, because we have no means to pay the US$-rated fee (especially compared to Dhanu's former school in Amsterdam, where he went to for free). Besides, they would have English as their daily language, which would confuse our kids even more. So the choice narrowed down to private schools.

I was thinking of visiting some recommended private schools one by one, with the hope that they would still let our kids start school as soon as possible (the new semester has already started for a couple of weeks when we arrived).
But these schools.. well, my experiences of going to one for 11+ years (from Kindergarten to Junior High) are similar to what the students of such schools face nowadays. I don't mind the emphasize on discipline. What I do mind is when our kids are stressed out by too much homeworks, exams, intra- and extra-curricular activities. I tend to disagree when a child's achievement is valued by their (exam) grades and ranks in class. Moreover, there are still expenses for their uniforms, books and other necessities.
To tell you the truth, I was quite worried about kids nowadays who already measure 'friends' by their belongings. I heard of a 9-10 year old kid asking a new classmate, "What does your father do? How much does he make? What kind of car does he have?" Isn't that frightening?

I secretly longed for an elementary school similar to Totto Chan's Tomoe, where kids can be what they are: children who enjoy playing, exploring things and surroundings, and discovering their own interests - and are allowed to conduct such behaviours in school hours. And (with a faint hope) whose enrolling and monthly fees do not cost too much.








Lord Above be Praised, it only took within a week of our lives in Bandung until I got convincing recommendations from friends whose children go to this one school: Cendekia. Most of these friends are fellow alumnis (and lecturers) of the Faculty of Arts and Design ITB; the rest are their spouses and people I know from other sources. The way they promoted their kids' school is, "There's no homework!" or "They don't have to wear uniform!" or "We don't have to buy school books!"

We rightaway made a plan to visit the school, along with Dhanu and Lindri. I met some of these friends that day, who waited for us after they took their kids in. We were introduced to Pak Er, the headmaster, who then showed us around the school.
It is a small school, looking very homey and welcoming. They have daycare, playgroup and kindergarten classes as well, besides the elementary school classes. The ratio between teacher and students is 1:10. Dhanu's class-to-be, Grade 1, consists only of 8 students! This fact was what impressed me the most, knowing that Dhanu would need a lot of attention in his adjusting period.

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Dhanu entering the school yard

Pak Er continued to explain that the students go through the day not based on subjects (Math, Science, etc.) but by projects. And - as my friends said - if there's an exam, we (parents) are not notified and the kids would do their exam without being aware that they are being tested. I was told that graduates from Cendekia elementary school also did a standard test (from the government) and they could manage. The school focuses on developing children's social skills, or leadership skills (hence the name Cendekia Leadership School) - training them to be independent and outspoken, with manners. It is an Islamic school that emphasizes on the understanding of conducting properly in daily life based on their belief.

The school seemed friendly enough, so we agreed to have some days of trials for our kids. Surprise, surprise, our kids were allowed to start in the next day already! And they seemed eager to go, as well, after one week of 'doing nothing' at home (or being dragged around by me).
So, the next day, I took them there and left them for a full school hour (08:30-16:00). That day, on the move, I kept checking my mobile to see if the school tried to contact me due to our kid(s) having trouble. But nothing happenned; they were quite content.

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Dhanu shows his desk in his classroom

It's been almost two months now since Dhanu and Lindri became Cendekia students. So far, they never refuse to go to school and there's hardly any task that they have to do at home. They spend the rest of the day playing, until dinner time, and are happy to go to school again the next day. We had pleasant and informative conversations with their teachers and we know almost everyone in that school. Not to mention that we often get rides to school (thanks, Ira! :D) and from school (thanks to Ira, Mbak Dona and Bu Endang :D). Most importantly for us, Dhanu and Lindri are adjusting themselves happily in his new school. I think this is mainly due to the school's concept to recognize personality and characters of each child and to nurture his/her unique potentials accordingly. This school is definitely not a 'pupils factory' (borrowing Ivan Illich's term in Deschooling Society). In short, we are satisfied with how things are going so far. We might have found a 'Tomoe', and we need more of such!

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Dhanu and Lindri standing next to a staircase that goes to Dhanu's classroom









Thursday, March 22, 2007

A back door, is it?

I begin to understand what Mrs. Mm meant from our weird conversation yesterday (see previous entry). I went to Pengadilan Negeri again this morning, to show her that I have gathered information from KanIm (Immigration Office) and HukHAM (Ministry of Justice and Human Rights). According to KanIm, it is possible to apply for our children's Indonesian citizenship and according to HukHAM, our kids are entitled to have (limited) dual-nationality. The problem is, Mrs. Mm said, will KanIm and the DisDuk (Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil, or Civil Office) let our kids possess two nationalities, or will they demand our kids to give up their Dutch nationality? Moreover, her main concern now is whether our kids can be included in my salary (under 'child support') - because Civil Servant doesn't recognize (financial) supports for foreigners.

Basically, our options are as follows:

1. Go on with our plan to have our marriage certificate legalized by the State Court, so it is recognized by the Indonesian law. Consequences:


  • The kids' birth certificates will be legalized and recorded at the Civil Office as 'foreigners' (who are still required to extend - and pay for - their staying permits in due time)
  • I still have to apply for their dual-nationality to HukHAM
  • If everything goes well, the kids will be granted Indonesian nationality and still keep their Dutch one until they are 18
2. Go on with Mrs. Mm's suggestion to reregister our children's birth certificates under the status of 'born outside a marriage bond'. Consequences:


  • The kids will (automatically?) be granted Indonesian citizenship
  • The kids will have to give up their Dutch citizenship(?)
  • I can apply for legalization of our marriage certificate much later, when our kids' Indonesian citizenship is granted
We've known since long that we prefer Option 1. But (still keeping good thoughts) apparently what Mrs. Mm suggested was a backdoor, or a trick, to face different laws from different institutions of Indonesia in order to get what we want in the first place.

Besides, there are still some question marks at Option 2, which I still need to find out. (These institutions don't communicate to each other - and are contradictory in their rules - and I am the one who has to go all over their offices to find out?!)
I went to the Civil Office this afternoon, but the authorized person (who supposed to know about these rules) was in a meeting. I'll go there again tomorrow morning, after dropping the kids at school, and (hopefully) get a clear answer once and for all. Then I'll proceed with our process, before we run out of money, time and patience.


p.s. Mrs. Mm mentioned again whether I am sure that my husband won't cheat on me or get bored living in Bandung. And more of such, but I won't waste our Internet quota for this. Besides, it's more juicy if I tell you the stories directly.. heehee..

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

"Anak2mu dianggap anak luar nikah saja!"


Ini ada cerita 'lucu' lagi, masih lanjutan dari proses 'kuitansi' waktu itu. Kali ini di Pengadilan Negeri Bandung, kejadiannya tadi pagi (Rabu 21 Maret). Selesai nganter anak2 ke sekolah (di Jl. Belitung, deket SMA 3), saya jalan kaki ke Pengadilan Negeri Bandung (deket, cuma tinggal ngelewatin pasar Cihapit). Sampai sana, saya tanya ke petugas keamanan tempat bagian Perdata. Karena waktu itu masih cukup pagi (sekitar 07:45), saya harus menunggu petugas yang bersangkutan, sebut saja namanya Bu Mm.

Sekitar jam 8 lewat sedikit, datanglah Bu Mm. Saat itu kantor masih sangat sepi. Di ruangan yg tampaknya dapat memuat
sekitar 30 petugas itu, hanya ada Bu Mm, seorang rekan wanitanya
yg datang belakangan (duduk di sampingnya, jadi juga mencampuri pembicaraan kami), dan dua petugas
laki2 (yg duduknya agak jauh).
Langsung saya ajukan permohonan saya utk mengesahkan surat nikah kami; saya sodorkan Surat Penolakan yg baru saya dapatkan dari Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil. Saya sudah menyiapkan berkas2 lengkap, dengan dugaan bahwa si ibu akan langsung meminta syarat2 tsb untuk dapat langsung memroses permintaan saya. Dugaan saya salah, saudara-saudara. Ternyata Bu Mm memilih utk berbicara dulu dengan saya.

Inti pembicaraan tersebut adalah, Bu Mm meminta saya utk mempertimbangkan kembali pengajuan permohonan saya ini. Sebab, bila permohonan ini diproses, pernikahan kami akan sah diakui oleh Republik Indonesia. Lho, kan memang itu yang saya maui? Terutama supaya saya dapat melanjutkan proses pelaporan akte lahir anak2 saya dan permohonan supaya anak2 saya bisa memperoleh WNI?
Ternyata nasehatnya begini: pernikahan kami, yg resmi diakui di Belanda, tidak usah disahkan di sini. Secara hukum, status saya di RI adalah single, demikian juga Sybrand. Anak2 akan dianggap sebagai anak2 luar nikah. Kenapa mesti begitu?

"Begini", katanya (menurut pengalamannya selama 20 th mengurusi perkara2 WN), "Jadi nanti kalau ada apa2 di antara kamu dan suamimu (maksudnya cerai), anak2 akan bisa dilaporkan sebagai anak2 luar nikah dan berhak mendapat WNI!"
Tt: Lho Bu, kan saya memang akan mendaftarkan mereka utk mendapat kewarga-negaraan ganda?
Mm: Apa Anda tahu betul itu? Memang banyak di berita2 koran, Internet, televisi.. tapi itu kan media. Apakah semua itu benar? Nomer berapa UUnya, apa jaminannya bahwa HukHAM mengeluarkan SK tsb?
Tt (menyesal nggak mbawa semua map berisi info ttg UU dan persyaratan WN ganda dari HukHAM): Meskipun informasinya dari website HukHAM sendiri...?
Mm: Kalau memang demikian, ada aturannya, kenapa kita (Pengadilan Negeri?) nggak dikasih tau? Sekarang gini. Suaminya kerja apa di sini?
Tt: Statusnya ikut saya, jadi ya dia di rumah aja, sambil jadi house husband.
Mm: Nah tu kan, siapa tahu dia terus bosen, ngelencer ke mana2. Siapa tau dia lalu kabur (maksudnya selingkuh), lalu nanti bawa anak2mu lho! Karena anak2 itu kan sudah pegang paspor Belanda! Kasian kamu lho!

Nah lo. Saya mulai ngerasa aneh, argumen2 Bu Mm tentu didasarkan pada pengalamannya mengurus perkara2 Perdata yg dibawa kepadanya. Seperti kata temenku si Ihsan, tentu saja yg banyak dia temui adalah pasangan2 yg bermasalah, kalo nggak ada masalah ngapain juga orang datang ke Pengadilan Negeri, kan? Jadi saya anggap maksudnya baik - mau warning saya - tapi kok jadinya prejudice ke suamiku ya..

Bu Mm lalu menganjurkan saya utk pulang dan memikirkan masak2 keputusan saya utk mengesahkan pernikahan kami. Beliau juga mengusulkan supaya saya bertanya langsung pada Kepala Imigrasi utk memperoleh keterangan yg pasti ttg kemungkinan anak2 kami mendapatkan WN-ganda. Kalau perlu juga ke kantor HukHAM utk minta nomer2 UU yg pasti mendasari hal2 ini.

Pembicaraan kami berlanjut hingga ke subyek bahwa saya ini Pegawai Negeri, dan bahwa anak2 sebenernya berhak masuk daftar gaji saya ("Harus itu! Kasihan kalau tidak!" kata Bu Mm). Bahwa perpanjangan ijin tinggal setiap bulan adalah mahal dan makan waktu ('duh), dan bahwa adanya sponsor utk visa mereka menandakan bahwa jalan anak2 menuju WNI masih sangat jauh. Bu Mm dan rekannya juga menyebut2 nama2 orang2 kondang (artis, penyanyi, olahragawan, dsb) yg pernah bermasalah dengan pasangan WNA mereka - to which I think, it's time to go!

*menghela napas panjaaang sekali*

Keluar dari gedung Pengadilan Negeri, otak saya cuma bisa buat mikir - pake angkot mana utk ke Suci. Saya langsung ke Kantor Imigrasi untuk menemui Kepala Imigrasi dan minta informasi lengkap ttg peraturan imigrasi dan kewarga-negaraan, sesuai usul Bu Mm.
Setiba di sana, kebetulan Kepala Imigrasi (Pak Susilo) sedang di tempat dan saya dipersilakan utk langsung menemui beliau. Setelah mendengarkan duduk-perkara saya, Pak Susilo mengusulkan saya utk langsung menemui Pak Abdul Rachman yg lebih paham soal ini. Di lantai atas, saya diminta menunggu karena Pak AR sedang ada tamu.. terlalu lama hingga akhirnya Pak Susilo lewat dan menyapa saya, "Sudah?". "Belum Pak, sedang ada tamu katanya". Beliau berbalik ke stafnya dan meminta mereka bergegas supaya saya segera dapat menemui Pak AR (Terima kasih, Pak Susilo! :D).

Ternyata Pak AR hanya ada waktu sedikit, sebab ada stafnya yg baru meninggal dunia dan seisi kantor telah siap2 utk berangkat melayat. Segera saya jelaskan, sekali lagi, permintaan saya utk mendapat kejelasan ttg permohonan ijin tinggal dan kewarga-negaraan. Pak AR menjelaskan dengan baik, meskipun agak concern juga dengan lokasi sponsor yg di Jakarta ("Kalau di Bandung, akan lebih mudah diurus"). Tapi (karena terburu2 juga), beliau berjanji akan membantu. Saya lalu pamit dan pergi ke ITB; sudah waktunya ketemu mahasiswa yg lucu2 supaya nggak terlalu banyak mengerutkan kening.. hehe..


Saturday, March 17, 2007

[klipping] Bridging differences through comics


From The Jakarta Post: http://thejakartapost.com/detailfeatures.asp?fileid=20070317.W04&irec=3
I've browsed through this article and found some basic mistakes: my name is actually Dwinita ("Dinita" is what's spelled in the exhibition's catalogue), I've never studied graphic design and I haven't got my drawings published except for the ones in anthologies (40075km-comics, Belgium and 24HCD, USA and The Netherlands). I'll write a letter to JP soon..



Dinita Larasati: Bridging differences through comics


A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dinita
"Tita" Larasati has a doctorate in architecture from the Delft
University of Technology in the Netherlands, but the public at large
would probably better recognize her for her graphic diary comics than
her academic credentials.

One of Tita's comics will soon be published in The 24 Hour Comics book in the United States.


The journey to the U.S. was not easy. Over 1,200 comic writers from 17
countries submitted their stories to the organizing committee, which
chose the 10 best entries to be published in a book titled 24 Hour Comics Day 2007. One of the 10 comics selected was Tita's -- titled Transition -- which is also features at the on-going Indie comics exhibition at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta.

The exhibition, which is being attended by 10 comic writers from Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta, ends today.

Transition
deals with the role of cultural differences in human relations, drawing
inspiration mainly from Tita's, and her friends', experiences living in
the Netherlands.


In one of the drawings, for example, Tita, who is also a lecturer at
the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), describes how her Indonesian
friends, on their first visit to the Netherlands, became infuriated
when her Dutch husband, while stirring coffee, would point to a
location on a map with his foot, an act considered impolite back in
Indonesia.

In
another drawing, Tita shows how Indonesians living in the Netherlands,
including herself, have to learn "small" habits, such as mentioning
their name when answering the phone. In Indonesia, merely saying
"hello" is sufficient.

Tita's Transition
also points out how two things can have different functions in two
countries with different cultures. In Indonesia, and perhaps in other
developing countries, a house window is a place where children, and
sometimes adults, from the neighborhood would watch from outside a TV
that was in the house, while in the Netherlands and other developed
countries, the same window functions as a place for house owners to
look out of while watching TV.


All Tita's drawings, which are classified as Indie comics, are full of
details and lines placed in small panels. This is thanks to her
background in graphic design.


"All my works are about my personal experiences, such as traveling,"
Tita said in a discussion on Indie comics at Taman Ismail Marzuki Art
Center in Central Jakarta last Saturday.

Transition, along with other works by nine local cartoonists, which are categorized in the Do It Yourself (DIY) genre of comics, has been on exhibition at the center since March 3.


The comics are classified as DIY because the writers produce and
distribute their works by themselves, as mainstream publishing
companies often reject their "market-unfriendly" comics.


Indie comic artists can create whatever they want and address sensitive
themes such as violence perpetrated by military officers or certain
religious groups.


Some observers view Indie comics as a symbol of rejection of the
dictatorial power represented in large publishing companies, be this
political of economical in nature.


Although they do not hate the state or big companies, Indie comic
writers want to highlight the fact that both the state and big
corporations have done nothing to improve their lives and that freedom
is the key concept they are trying to convey.

Tita, 35, has so far published five graphic diary books and two comics -- Re-United and Still Life, which is about the massive earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2005.


In her books, which mostly tell of her journeys, Tita often attaches
items such as tickets and candy wrappers because of their artistic
qualities.

"If
there are any mainstream companies that want to publish my work, they
have to follow what I want ... in terms of the details of my comics,"
the mother of two said.

Tita, who was born in Jakarta on Dec. 28, 1972, has published most of her works, including those selected in The 24 Hour Comics Day book, in her blog http://esduren.multiply.com.


She knows very well that piracy is rampant in the Indie comics world
and other indie worlds, but still chooses not to care too much about
property rights violations.


"They can steal my works, but they can not steal my ideas," said Tita,
who earned her master's degree in graphic design at Eindhoven
University of Technology in the Netherlands.










Friday, March 16, 2007

Flashback




A quick re-run of my life, during the transition between The Netherlands and Indonesia.

"Kuitansi" adalah barang aneh di negeri kita


Jadi ceritanya begini. Di minggu2 pertama kami di Indonesia, hari2 kami penuh dengan kepengurusan surat2 kewarga-negaraan, kepegawaian, ijin tinggal/imigrasi, dsb.nya. Salah satunya adalah kepengurusan surat pelaporan nikah di Kantor Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil di Jl. Seram, Bandung.


Kami menikah th. 1999, namun (due to my cluelessness) tidak dilaporkan ke RI dalam jangka waktu satu tahun setelah menikah. Sehingga pelaporan sekarang ini tentunya sudah terlambat 7 tahun. Karena terlambat, Dinas Kependudukan tidak bisa lagi mencatatkan, namun hanya bisa mengeluarkan Surat Penolakan (= menolak pelaporan karena terlambat), yg harus saya bawa ke Pengadilan Negeri. Pihak Pengadilan Negeri ini yg selanjutnya akan mengesahkan pernikahan kami.


Sudah saya penuhi semua persyaratan utk membuat Surat Penolakan. Pertama kali saya datang ke kantor Dinas Kependudukan adalah sekitar 2 minggu yg lalu. Seorang petugas di sana (Loket 13), Pak Rofiq, berkata akan menyelesaikan semua urusan, dalam waktu 1-2 hari kerja. Namun karena KTP Bandung saya belum jadi, dokumen baru bisa saya lengkapi keesokan harinya, setelah saya ambil KTP dari Kecamatan. Ketika fotokopi KTP sudah tiba di tangan Pak Rofiq, tentu saja saya harapkan Surat Penolakan tsb dapat keluar pada hari berikutnya, atau lusanya.


Maka ke sana lah saya keesokan harinya, di sela2 waktu mengajar dan menjemput anak2 dari sekolah. Kali pertama, Pak Rofiq dikabarkan sakit (= tidak masuk kantor), dan tidak meninggalkan berkas2 kerjanya di kantor. Tidak ada yg tahu ttg surat2 saya di kantor tsb, tidak ada lagi tempat bertanya.

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Nomer2 yg diberikan kepada saya, supaya menghubungi sendiri ybs utk mencari tahu ttg kelanjutan kepengurusan dokumen2 saya. Nomer rumah? HP? Urusan kantor ya diselesaikan di kantor dong.. Yg saya pakai belakangan hanya nomer kantor ("Disduk").


Kali kedua, Pak Rofiq ada namun ibu pejabat yang berautoritas utk menanda-tangani surat2 tsb sedang sakit, sehingga surat tsb belum dapat dikeluarkan. Kali ketiga dan keempat, si ibu masih juga sakit (jadi total 4 hari beliau absen).


Kali kelima, saya coba telpon dulu ke kantor tsb sebelum berangkat ke sana. "Oh, ibu sudah masuk kantor lagi, silakan datang saja, pasti surat2nya sudah selesai ditanda-tangani", kata suara seorang perempuan yg mengangkat telpon. Setelah menelepon, saya langsung ke kantor tsb, naik ke lantai dua, Loket 13. "Tunggu sebentar, Pak Rofiqnya sedang sholat", kata seorang staf di sana. Oke, saya tunggu bersama bbrp orang lain yg juga berkepentingan dengan Pak Rofiq. Begitu beliau muncul, saya langsung menagih surat tsb, "Pak, ibunya sudah masuk lagi, berarti surat saya sudah ditanda-tangani dan bisa saya ambil ya?". Diambilnya sebuah map dari balik meja, sambil ditunjuk2, "Wah belum Bu, belum saya print ini formulirnya. Belum kelar. Nanti lah saya telpon kalau sudah siap diambil".


Saya dongkol, tapi bisa apa lagi, coba. Meskipun didatangi orang2 lain yg menunggunya, Pak Rofiq terus saja berjalan ke arah tangga, tidak menghiraukan orang2 ini (termasuk saya). Waktu itu adalah Senin siang, 12 Maret 2007.


Kamis 15 Maret, sekitar pk. 17:00, saya mendapat telpon dari Pak Rofiq, "Surat bisa diambil, Bu, ditunggu besok jam sembilan pagi". Wah, ya nggak apa2 deh, saya hanya harus memberitahu ITB bahwa saya akan terlambat dalam forum presentasi proposal thesis para mahasiswa S-2, yg dimulai pk. 09:00.


Hari ini, Jumat 16 Maret, setelah nge-drop anak2 di sekolah, saya langsung ke Kantor Imigrasi di Jl. Suci, utk melanjutkan kepengurusan ijin tinggal Syb dan anak2. Selesai dari sana sekitar pk. 09:15, saya langsung ke Kantor Kependudukan, naik ke Loket 13. "Pak Rofiqnya di bawah, di Loket 1" - saya turun lagi, dan beliau mengenali tampang saya. "Lama ya, Bu?" katanya tersenyum2. "Lumayan", saya bilang. "Silakan duduk dulu, saya ambil berkas2nya", lalu ia naik ke lantai dua. Saya duduk di bangku2 utk tamu di depan Loket 1. Kembali dengan map saya, ia menunjukkan surat2 yg selesai ditanda-tangan, memberitahu bahwa saya harus melengkapi fotokopi paspor saya. Lalu minta biaya administrasi.


Nah ini dia.


"Berapa?" tanya saya. "Tiga puluh ribu", ujarnya. "Oke", saya bilang, sambil ngeluarin dompet, "Tolong kuitansinya ya Pak". "Wah kita mah nggak punya kuitansi", katanya, sambil mengerutkan kening.


S: Masa nggak ada, bukti pembayaran deh kalo gitu


R: Wah, kita nggak pake gitu2an


S: Gimana saya tau harus bayar berapa, kalo nggak ada standarnya? Saya kan juga harus tanggung jawab ke yang punya uang? Tanda pembayaran biasa aja, deh.


R (bangkit dari bangku tamu, mondar manidr ke balik meja Loket 1. Looking more and more animated): Nggak ada kuitansi di sini mah, udah kasih aja uangnya, gampang.


S: Nggak bisa dong, gimana saya mau ngasih 15, 30, atau 50 ribu kalau nggak ada ketetapannya?


R (mulai tampak kesal, kembali berdiri di balik Loket 1): Ya udah, gini aja. Sana ke lantai dua, minta kuitansi ke Bu Siti. Kasih uangnya ke sana. Saya kan udah bantu Ibu, masa Ibu ngebantu saya gini aja nggak mau.


S: Lho, kalau memang ada biaya resmi tentu saya lunasi. Kalau soal membantu, ini kan memang sudah tugas Bapak?


R: Bukan! Tugas saya tuh ini (sambil menggerak2kan jarinya ke sekeliling mejanya, nggak jelas maksudnya apa), saya ini sudah mbantu Ibu ngurusin surat2 itu! Ya udah deh 25ribu aja, tuh, nggak pake harga ekstra!


S: Tau gitu saya ngurus ini lewat orang yang semestinya aja! (masih senyum2 tapi sambil jalan ke lantai dua)


Di lantai dua, saya minta Ibu Siti membuat tanda terima, ditulis tangan, dilengkapi cap Dinas Kependudukan. Saya beri 25ribu rupiah ke Bu Siti, bertukar dengan tanda terima tsb, lalu pergi meninggalkan Loket 13. Sampai di bawah, saya cari Pak Rofiq di loket 1, tidak ada. Keluar dari kantor tsb, saya lihat dia sedang berjalan ke dalam area parkir, dari arah luar (baru jajan, mungkin?). Saya sodorkan kuitansi dari Bu Siti, "Ini lho Pak, kan gampang!". Tampangnya terlihat masih sebal, "Ah ya udah! Paling ke sananya juga nggak pake gitu2an!" (sambil nuding ke kuitansi).

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Kuitansi heboh tsb.


Mungkin kelakuan saya yg aneh ya, ngotot minta tanda bukti pembayaran. Dan mungkin kuitansi itu benda aneh yg dianggap tidak normal dalam sebuah transaksi yg meilbatkan uang. Apa saya yg salah karena nggak go with the flow spt umumnya orang yg gampang ngasih pelicin sana sini? Naif? Mungkin saja.


Kalo kebetulan Pak Rofiq baca tulisan ini, atau ada yg baca ini dan kenal sama Pak Rofiq, titip pesen aja, "Jangan marah ya, Pak". Saya toh cuma warga biasa yg punya kewajiban mencatatkan dan melaporkan ini-itu. Tentu saja saya juga punya hak utk dilayani secara jelas, baik dan benar dalam menjalankan kewajiban tsb.





Wednesday, March 14, 2007

[klipping] Komik Unik

Dari Tempo Interaktif http://www.tempointeraktif.com/hg/budaya/2007/03/13/brk,20070313-95384,id.html


Komik Unik
Selasa, 13 Maret 2007 | 15:08 WIB


TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: Bencana yang merenggut ribuan nyawa di darat sudah jamak. Dari dalam air, bencana juga membuat ribuan nyawa melayang tinggi. Ketakutan pun muncul, jangan-jangan bencana dari udara segera datang.

Tiba-tiba terdengar suara gemuruh di atap langit. "Bencana dari udara," kata seorang ayah. Ia pun mengajak istri dan anaknya berlari ke luar ruang. Namun, sang istri lega lantaran sumber suara gemuruh di atas atap itu ternyata hanya seekor kucing.

Sindiran itu digarap di sepenggal komik yang dipamerkan dalam pameran komik bertajuk Eksposisi Komik DI:Y alias Daerah Istimewa: Yourself. Acara yang berlangsung di Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, pada 3-17 Maret itu menampilkan karya sebelas komikus lokal, seperti Athonk, Bambang Toko, Beng Rahardian, Didoth, Eko Nugroho, Iwank, Oyas & Iput, Mail, Pras, dan Tita.

Para komikus telah memiliki sederet pengalaman. Athonk, yang bernama asli Sapto Raharjo, misalnya, telah melahirkan karya, seperti dua jilid Bad Times Story, Old Skull Comics Strips, Old Skull in the Garden, dan Strip Jams. Sebagian besar karya komikus kelahiran Kendal, 15 Agustus 1971, ini diterbitkan oleh penerbit asing dari Melbourne, Hawaii, dan New Orleans.

Bambang Toko, yang lahir di Yogyakarta dengan nama Bambang Witjaksono pada 27 Maret 1973, juga banyak berpameran di dalam dan luar negeri. Sedangkan Eko Nugroho, yang tahun lalu terpilih sebagai manusia cemerlang versi majalah Tempo, adalah komikus yang dikenal sebagai Presiden The Daging Tumbuh, sebuah jurnal sekaligus gerakan seni fotokopi yang banyak memuat komik di Yogyakarta.

Karya yang ditampilkan dalam pameran memang bukan komik mainstream layaknya Tintin, Asterix, Superman, atau bahkan komik Jepang yang bejibun jumlahnya di pasar. "Kesebelas komikus ini adalah wakil yang boleh dibilang sangat berhasil memunculkan keunikan jati diri mereka dalam karya mereka," kata kurator komik Hikmat Darmawan.

Keunikan karya itu tak cuma tampil dalam bentuk kaya garis milik Beng Rahadian. Namun, cara bertutur yang begitu unik juga ditunjukkan Tita, yang banyak menampilkan karyanya lewat blog.

Keunikan tersebut, kata Hikmat, menawarkan daerah kemungkinan yang lebih luas lagi bagi medium komik. Sikap inilah yang mampu mengubah posisi sebelumnya.

Maklum, sebelumnya komik adalah bentuk seni yang menunggu di antara peradaban Guttenberg dan McLuhan. Peradaban Guttenberg adalah peradaban teks yang statis. Sedangkan peradaban McLuhan adalah peradaban visual, yakni membaca dan menonton. "Sebuah tangan gaib menempatkannya di sana karena sifat alaminya sebagai medium hibrida," kata Hikmat.

Maka komik pun pasif menunggu di ruang tunggu. Gerakan kesebelas komikus ini, kata Hikmat, membuat komik tak lagi pasif menunggu. Tak penting lagi, Godot akan datang atau tidak. Komik malah asyik sendiri. Ruang tunggu telah diubahnya menjadi ruang miliknya sendiri. Bahkan, kata Hikmat, "Ruang itu semakin besar saja kini."

nur hidayat

[klipping] DI:Y, Apresiasi Eksplorasi Komikus Lokal








Dari http://www.seputar-indonesia.com/edisicetak/budaya/di-y-apresiasi-eksplorasi-komikus-lokal-3.html


DI:Y, Apresiasi Eksplorasi Komikus Lokal

Minggu, 11/03/2007





SEBELAS komikus – Sapto Raharjo (Anthok), Bambang Witjaksono, Bambang ‘Beng’ Tri Rahardian, Didi Purnomo (Didoth),Eko Nugroho, Erwan Hersi Susanto (Iwank), Ahmad Ismail (Ma’il),Siti Fitriyah (Iput),Golkas Teguh Sujiwo (Oyas), Prasajadi, dan Dinita Larasati (Tita)— menampilkan karya mereka dalam pameran bertajuk


”Eksposisi Komik DI:Y (Daerah Istimewa: Yourself)”di Galeri Cipta II Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) dari 3-17 Maret 2007. Setiap komikus memperlihatkan keistimewaan atau kekhasan masing-masing. Anthok misalnya, tampil sebagai komikus yang menawarkan tema–tema realisme.Dalam karya berseri Oldskull and Friends tentang kisahkisah dari penjara yang merupakan pengalaman pribadinya, kecenderungan menawarkan realisme itu tampak kuat.Di sisi lain,Anthok kelihatan tidak membiarkan ruang kosong mengisi panel-panel komiknya.


Maka,panel-panel itu pun disi dengan corat-coret garis dan kata-kata seperti living on a prayer, bontex floresta, punk, bastard,God help me,derita tiada akhir,dan hidup di bui lagi. Obrolan singkat dan anekdot yang dibangun Anthok tampak spontan dan ekspresif. Sedangkan Beng Rahardian tampil lebih surealis, walaupun sedikit juga tertarik ke realis. Dalam komik bertajuk Lapar dan Tidur Panjang, komik korban gempa Yogyakarta, kekhasan surealis Beng sangat menonjol.


Lantas mengapa dia lebih suka gaya surealis? ”Saya tidak bisa lagi tanpa realis ketika menghadapi bencana seperti tsunami Aceh atau gempa Yogya, sebab tidak ada lagi yang riil untuk digambarkan dengan kata-kata,” ungkap Beng. Dalam menggarap karya-karya, dia mengaku, dirinya lebih mengedepankan ekspresi kekebasan kendati tetap dalam format konvensional. Penampilan ke-11 komikus, yang mempertontonkan kekhasan daerah istimewa mereka, sebenarnya sebuah upaya memetakan pertualangan komikus di jagad komik Indonesia.Upaya tersebut, kata Ketua Komite Seni Rupa Dewan Kesenian Jakarta (DKJ) Ade Darmawan, penting untuk mengetahui perkembangan karya komik di Tanah Air. Bagaimana tidak,sejak 1990 komik di Tanah Air mengalami perkembangan cukup pesat. Kendati pasar komik lebih didominasi kekuatan industri komik dari Jepang dan Amerika,namun geliat eksplorasi komikus Indonesia cukup fantastik.


”Sejumlah komikus kita melakukan eksplorasi bahasa visual dan literatur,menjajaki segala kemungkinan.Mereka juga berupaya menciptakan modus produksi dan estetika yang lebih mandiri di luar modus produksi dan estetika industri komik utama,”tutur Ade.Maka tujuan pameran ini, jelasnya, untuk membuka kesempatan komik Indonesia bertemu dengan khalayak komik,menghidupkan apresiasi,kajian, dan kritik.”Karena perkembangan,kendati kecil, akan menjadi penting ketika dicatat, dikaji, dan dikritik,”imbuh dia.


Sementara kurator komik Hikmat Darmawan menilai,ke-11 komikus yang tampil dalam pameran ini merupakan wakil-wakil yang boleh dibilang sangat berhasil memunculkan keunikan jati diri mereka dalam karya-karyanya.Keberhasilan tersebut karena aktivitas mereka dengan etos DIY (Do It Yourself). Keistimewaan komikus lokal era DIY ialah mereka tidak lagi mengutamakan ketrampilan teknis menggambar sebagaimana lazimnya. Mereka lebih mementingkan ekspresi, tidak terikat pada proses penerbitan tradisional atau tidak membutuhkan penerbit.Modus penerbitan melalui fotokopi dan distribusi dari tangan ke tangan,tanpa melalui jaringan distribusi resmi adalah ciri khas etos DIY. Menurut Hikmat,etos DIY ini membuka peluang seluas-luasnya bagi kemerdekaan estetik dan spontanitas ekspresi seni akan tumbuh. (donatus nador) K

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

[klipping] 'Gerilya' Komik Indonesia

Dari Republika: http://www.republika.co.id/koran_detail.asp?id=285841&kat_id=306


Minggu, 11 Maret 2007
Komik Yourself
'Gerilya' Komik Indonesia


Di tengah popularitas komik Jepang dan Amerika Serikat (AS), komik lokal hampir tak mendapat tempat di rak pajang toko buku. Kendati demikian, kondisi sebenarnya ternyata tidak terlalu mengenaskan. Setidaknya, komik lokal masih hidup dan dinikmati oleh penggemarnya.


Ingin bukti? Tengok saja cuplikan hasil karya 11 komikus yang dipamerkan di Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki sejak 3 Maret 2007 lalu. Eksposisi Komik Daerah Istimewa Yourself (DI:Y) itu masih bisa dinikmati sampai 17 Maret mendatang.


Untuk memberi bobot pameran, juga digelar diskusi komik bertajuk Komik sebagai Sub Kultur, pada Sabtu 10 Maret 2007, dengan pembicara Vaniani Ika (pengamat komik), serta Dinita Larasati, Beng Rahadian, dan Bambang Toko (ketiganya komikus).


Komik Indonesia pernah menjadi tuan rumah di negeri sendiri. Tetapi, era itu sudah lama berselang. ''Komik lokal digandrungi pada tahun 1970-an,'' ujar Ade Darmawan, ketua Komite Seni Rupa Dewan Kesenian Jakarta.

RA Kosasih beserta komik Mahabharata-nya amat terkenal dalam tahun 1970-an. Begitu pula, Hasmi dan karya fenomenalnya, serial Gundala Putera Petir. Nama lain yang sukar hilang dari ingatan pecinta komik lokal adalah Ganes TH, pencipta serial Si Buta dari Goa Hantu.


Dalam tahun 1970-an, lanjut Ade, komik lokal kental sekali dengan nuansa Indonesia. Kalau bukan lantaran mengangkat mitos tentu karena bahasa visualnya yang akrab. Cara komikus menggambarkan gerak-gerik tokoh-tokohnya patut diacungi jempol. Pada masanya, komikus malah sejajar dengan bintang film ternama yang selalu menjadi pusat perhatian saat berada di keramaian.


Ade berpendapat komikus zaman dulu amat terasah. Mereka mampu menciptakan karya-karya orisinal. ''Sayangnya, kemampuan itu tidak tertular pada generasi muda komikus,'' katanya.


Dalam pengamatan Ade, komikus masa kini sangat terpengaruh oleh gaya komik Jepang. Dari segi visual, tak ada pencapaian baru yang ditunjukkan. ''Padahal, kalau menggali lebih jeli, mereka bisa menemukan gaya khas sendiri,'' komentarnya.


Bilakah kebangkitan komik lokal tiba? ''Tak perlu merisaukan, Godot datang atau tidak,'' kata Hikmat Darmawan, kurator komik pada Eksposisi Komik DI:Y. Sejumlah komikus muda yang berdomisili di Jakarta, Bandung, dan Yogyakarta mengusung filosofi punk -- do it yourself alias kerjakan saja sendiri -- untuk mengangkat kembali kejayaan komik lokal.


Athonk termasuk salah satu komikus muda yang terbaik saat ini. Tokoh yang direkanya jauh dari pengaruh komik Jepang maupun Amerika yang digandrungi semua umur. Ia menawarkan sebuah kemungkinan realisme tema.


Seri Old Skull merupakan karya Athonk yang paling digemari. Dalam Old Skull, komikus bernama asli Sapto Raharjo sedikit banyak mengangkat pengalaman pribadinya semasa 11 bulan mendekam di bui. Salah satunya menceritakan tentang insafnya Old Skul, pemakai putaw berambut Mohawk berwajah tengkorak. ''Gaya kartun seri komik strip Old Skull tampak kasar, minim stilisasi, seperti diguris seadanya, serbacepat, dan spontan,'' komentar Hikmat.


Selain Athonk, ada pula Eko Nugroho. Dari pemikiran cemerlangnyalah lahir komik-komik banyolan seri The Konyol. Dalam The Konyol, Eko mengetengahkan keseharian orang kebanyakan. Di akhir tahun 1990-an, Eko membuat dunia komik lokal menggeliat. Presiden komunitas The Daging Tumbuh ini memprakarsai penerbitan jurnal komik indie, Daging Tumbuh. Daging Tumbuh merupakan kumpulan komik --mayoritas komik-komik DI:Y-- yang disebarluarskan dalam bentuk hasil fotokopi.


Tentang penyebab keterpurukan komik lokal, Hikmat punya teori. Kemungkinan besar itu terjadi karena ketidaksiapan industri buku untuk menerbitkan komik lokal. ''Tanpa dukungan infrastruktur industri, sulit untuk membuat komik tersebar luas,'' katanya.


Kecenderungan penerbit menyukai pencetakan komik luar negeri tentu bukan tanpa alasan. Dalih utama menyangkut kemudahan menerbitkan. ''Tinggal menerjemahkan naskah yang populer,'' urai Hikmat. Manga alias komik Jepang merupakan komik terbanyak yang menyerbu pasar Indonesia. Sedangkan, Amerika tak begitu produktif menghasilkan komik laris. ''Paling hanya Tintin dan Superman,'' imbuh Hikmat.


Pada tahun 1978, masyarakat baca Indonesia mulai mengenal komik asal Amerika. Saat itu, Tintin hadir. ''Tenda tempat penjualannya sampai rubuh gara-gara kerumunan penggemar,'' kenang Hikmat. Memasuki tahun 1980-an, Manga menyapa pecinta komik. Modus industrinya dibantu dengan anime (kartun Jepang). ''Manga menjadi amat kondang juga karena ketersediaannya yang berlimpah,'' kata Hikmat.


Di tahun 1990-an, dunia komik memasuki masa suram. Oleh masyarakat, komik hanya dianggap sebagai sub-kultur. ''Potret sebenarnya menggambarkan masyarakat yang terfragmentasi,'' ucap Hikmat. Di mata Hikmat, masa depan komik lokal tidak ditentukan oleh jumlah komikus yang meramaikan. Keaslian ide jauh lebih penting. ''Sebab, yang orisinallah yang bakal laris,'' ujarnya menandaskan. reiny dwinanda

Saturday, March 10, 2007

[klipping} Pameran Komik DI:Y

Dari http://www.suarapembaruan.com/News/2007/03/09/index.html

Pameran Komik DI:Y


Merangsang Kebangkitan Produksi dan Distribusi




Pameran Eksposisi Komik DI : Y (Do It Yourself) di Galeri Cipta II
Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta. Di pameran yang berlangsung hingga 17
Maret. [Pembaruan/Posman Sianturi]


Komik
lokal hampir tak berdaya menahan gempuran komik impor. Selain lemah
dari sisi produksi, komik lokal tak mampu bersaing dalam distribusi.
Namun di sisi lain, potensi komik lokal sesungguhnya cukup besar.


Sejumlah komikus membuktikan komik lokal masih eksis lewat pameran
Eksposisi Komik DI:Y (Do It Yourself) di Galeri Cipta II Taman Ismail
Marzuki, Jakarta. Di pameran yang berlangsung hingga 17 Maret ini
sekaligus upaya komikus asal Yogyakarta, Jakarta, dan Bandung untuk
menjajaki sejumlah kemungkinan.


Menurut Komite Seni Rupa Dewan Kesenian Jakarta (DKJ) Ade Darmawan,
sesungguhnya Indonesia mempunyai banyak komikus. Di sisi lain,
keberadaan sumber daya manusia itu tidak didukung oleh percetakan dan
distributor. Hal itu diperburuk lagi dengan kesenjangan antara komik
lokal dengan pembaca.


Saat ini, pasar Indonesia dipenuhi oleh komik Jepang dan Amerika.
Kondisi itu disebabkan keberpihakan para penerbit besar dengan jalur
distribusinya. Secara langsung atau tidak, ketidakberagaman komik di
pasar Indonesia mendikte pembaca komik atau konsumen untuk memilih
komik Jepang atau Amerika.


Ditambahkan, pameran komik DI:Y ini merupakan usaha awal untuk membaca
perkembangan karya komik lokal saat ini. Di balik pasar yang didominasi
komik Jepang dan Amerika, sejumlah komikus melakukan eksplorasi bahasa
visual dan literatur.


Para komikus yang berpameran, kata Ade, berupaya menciptakan modus
produksi dan estetika yang lebih mandiri di luar mainstream. Pameran
ini sebuah upaya untuk lebih membuka kesempatan komik Indonesia bertemu
dengan khalayak komik, menghidupkan apresiasi, kajian dan kritik.


Sementara itu, Kurator Komik, Hikmat Dermawan mengatakan secara
kultural, sejak awal sejarahnya, komik Indonesia modern mengalami
pasang surut cercaan yang lumayan keras. Secara industrial, sejak awal
tahun 1990-an, komik lokal mengalami keruntuhan. Komik Indonesia
kehilangan pembaca dan sempat melahirkan ilusi kematian komik Indonesia.


Dikatakan, sebelas komikus lokal yang ditampilkan dalam eksposisi
pameran komik DI:Y adalah wakil-wakil yang bisa disebut sangat berhasil
memunculkan keunikan jati diri pribadi dalam karya-karyanya.
Keberhasilan tersebut sebagian karena afinitas mereka dengan etos DI:Y
(Do It Yourself, Red). Di samping itu, mereka juga adalah
pribadi-pribadi yang terus mencari berproses dalam berkarya.


Keunikan identitas mereka, kata Hikmat, akhirnya menawarkan daerah
kemungkinan yang lebih luas lagi bagi medium komik. Mereka telah
mentransformasikan etos dan modus DI:Y menjadi penciptaan sebuah Daerah
Istimewa, tempat berbagai kemungkinan narasi-visual terbuka ke segala
arah. Akhirnya, komik lokal tidak lagi pasif menunggu.


Para komikus tersebut antara lain Oyas dan Iput, ada Athonk, Bambang
Toko, Beng Rahardian, Didoth, Eko Nugroho, Iwank, Mail, Pras dan Tita.
Bambang Toko lebih suka memarodikan konvensi visual komik. Tidak heran
banyak persoalan sosial tak luput diparodikannya.


Hasil karya Bambang Toko dengan komik berjudul Abdul Toyib
..., begitu jelas menyindir fundamentalisme salah satu ajaran agama.
Dia memparodikan perkongsian politik-militer-bisnis dalam komik
Reformasi pada tahun 1998. [AHS/U-5]




[klipping] Dari Eksposisi Komik DI:Y

Dari http://www.sinarharapan.co.id/berita/0703/06/hib01.html
Pasti ada aja salah cetak nama gue di katalog. Dulu waktu di Erasmus Huis, Titia, sekarang di TIM, Dinita.. hihihi..
===============================

Yang Mati Justru Distributor
Indonesia



Oleh

Sihar Ramses Simatupang



Jakarta – “Saya menolak komik Indonesia telah mati. Yang mati justru
produsen dan distributor komik Indonesia,” ujar Hikmat Darmawan,
kurator pameran komik yang hadir pada pembukaan eksposisi “Komik
DI:Y” di Galeri Cipta 3 Taman Ismail Marzuki Jakarta, Sabtu (3/3).



Apa yang dikatakan Hikmat sesungguhnya memang telah jadi fenomena
belakangan ini. Komik Indonesia menjamur. Sebut saja areal di depan
Bioskop 21 Cinepleks di Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, yang
menggelarnya hampir setiap hari. “Kulakan” ini bisa jadi luput dari
perhatian orang banyak, tetapi nyatanya banyak juga pelanggan
setianya.

Jadi, jangan hanya mengenang Djair (Warni), Taguan Hardjo, Ganes Th
yang memang terjamin dalam kenangan publik komik, walau itu perlu.
Namun, waktu terus berjalan, generasi komik Indonesia masih ada.
Bukan hanya komik singkat, Hikmat juga menjamin narasi panjang pada
karya komikus muda Indonesia itu terjaga. Seperti pendapat Ade
Darmawan, Komite Seni Rupa Dewan Kesenian Jakarta, bahwa di balik
pasar yang didominasi komik Jepang dan Amerika, sejumlah komikus
kita melakukan “eksplorasi bahasa visual dan literatur”.

Jadi, komikus Indonesia ada, juga aktif. Bahkan, di ajang pameran
itu digelar komik-komik Indonesia. Memang masih ada fotokopian
sederhana dari komik mini Djair sekitar empat edisi, tapi Beng
Rahardian dan beberapa komikus yang juga menawarkan komik karyanya.
“Teh Jahe” yang merupakan tajuk kompilasi komik pendek Beng menarik
perhatian para hadirin di momen pembukaan eksposisi malam itu.

Ada juga yang sedang mempersiapkan komiknya. “Tolong ya bantu diedit,
komik saya ini,” ujar Tita, berbicara kepada Hikmat, seraya
menunjukkan karyanya empat buku calon komik tebal dan satu buku
berisi komik separuh jadi.

Tita, atau lengkapnya Dinita Larasati, adalah salah satu komikus
Indonesia yang pernah berpameran juga di Erasmus Huis, beberapa
bulan silam. Bersama dengan komikus Indonesia lainnya yang saling
berbeda gaya – mereka adalah Motulz (Dwi Santoso), Cahya (Muhammad
Cahya Daulay), dan Beng. Tita dengan komik “graphic diary”-nya
adalah salah satu fenomena komik terbaru di Eropa, berbicara tentang
kisahnya dalam tumpukan komik grafik yang detail serupa dengan
tumpukan dekoratif. Kisah pribadinya itu, gamblang dan terbuka.

Sekarang ini, komik manga dari Jepang masih menghebohkan pasar
industri komik di Indonesia, dengan mata gadis Jepang yang kerap
ditampilkan lebar itu. Kurator Hikmat, kemudian menyebut fenomena
lain manga yaitu kisah cinta dan desire-nya yang kerap tak logis,
namun dikonsumsi para generasi muda Indonesia saat ini.

Jadi, selain komik-komik silat di Indonesia yang penuh dengan aroma
“nostalgia kebangsaan” itu, juga usai terbius oleh pikatan komik
manga atau petualangan Tintin karya Herge, Asterix karya Rene
Goscinny (naskah) dan Albert Uderzo (gambar), atau secara acak komik
Roel Dijkstra, Trigan, Arad & Maya, Coki si Pelukis Cepat, Storm,
jangan lupakan komik Indonesia yang mungkin sedang beredar secara
underground di sekeliling Anda.



Orisinal dan Stilis

Mainstream itu, seperti yang dituturkan Hikmat, tak nampak dalam
pameran ini. Para komikus dari Kota Yogyakarta, Bandung dan Jakarta,
menampilkan kekuatan pribadi pada masing-masing karyanya. Seperti
tajuknya DI:Y yaitu Do It Your Self, dalam pameran gaya personal
mereka masing-masing, terasa pada momen eksposisi.

Di pameran ini ada Athonk yang memperlihatkan objek tak konvensional
dengan tubuh tokoh yang mengalami deformasi, terkesan “cuwek” namun
dilengkapi panel yang masih rapi. Tokohnya pun digambarkan mirip
wajah tengkorak dan berambut Mohawk. Ada Bambang Toko yang gambarnya
terkesan naif, namun kisahnya cukup menarik dan rumit untuk diselami.
Eko Nugroho yang eksperimentalis dan gandrung menggambarkan dunia
ganjil dalam strip tiga panel terutama dalam Fight Me (2004).

Iwank yang ajeg dalam gaya namun ringan dalam narasi. Ma’il yang
dalam komik personalnya menunjukkan upaya subversi atas kenyataan
sosial-historis yang resmi selama ini. Oyas Sujiwo yang dari “gaya
manga” ke “DI:Y” – bersama istrinya Iput kemudian mengeksplorasi
“komik bodor” Humor ala Bandung dan Prasajadi yang karyanya sangat
khas dengan latar desain grafis, simetris dan terkesan rapi.

Membuat komik, contohkan saja yang konvensional, memerlukan strategi
teknik yang memadai – keseimbangan antara visual dan narasi. Mirip
rangkaian slide film yang menggabungkan kisah dengan penjelasan
gambar (komik nenek moyang film?), komik sangat memerlukan
kecerdasan dari komikusnya. Sebuah seni yang tak bisa dipandang
sebelah mata. Tinggal bagaimana produsen-distributor kita merespons
gelombang besar komikus muda Indonesia ini.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

DISKUSI & ARTIST TALK EKSPOSISI KOMIK DI: Y


DISKUSI & ARTIST TALK EKSPOSISI KOMIK DI: Y

“KOMIK SEBAGAI SUBKULTUR”

Komik adalah media yang dinamis, tapi sering luput diberdayakan. Belakangan, memang banyak gerakan LSM atau organisasi politik memanfaatkan komik-komik pendidikan untuk menerangkan ideologi tertentu, sosok tertentu, lembaga tertentu, atau ide-ide tertentu.
Pemberdayaan ini belumlah sampai pada potensi tertinggi medium komik. Sementara komik, baik di aras internasional mau pun lokal, sedang membangun dunia subkulturnya sendiri. Dunia subkultur komik mensubversi dunia sehari-hari secara umum, maupun dunia budaya pop secara khusus. Komik-komik yang terinspirasi etos DIY (Do It Yourself) membangun dunia subversif yang lebih menarik lagi. Sebagai medium hibrida, komik memang memberi kemungkinan-kemungkinan naratif, dan diskursif serta estetis, yang menarik.

Kesebelas seniman komik yang tampil dalam “Eksposisi Komik DI: Y” telah menjelajahi
potensi-potensi komik tersebut, menyempal dari kelaziman tradisi komik yang ada, dan menawarkan sebuah Indonesia yang bersifat alternatif dari sudut pandang pribadi mereka sebagai komikus. Bagaimanakah mereka berkreasi, dan daerah kreatif macam apakah yang mereka olah? Apa relasi karya-karya mereka dengan situasi Indonesia pasca-Reformasi? Apakah mereka sedang memvisualkan sebuah “Indonesia Baru”?

Hadiri diskusi dan artist talk Eksposisi Komik DI: Y, pada:

Hari/Tanggal : Sabtu, Maret 2007
Tempat : Galeri Cipta II, TIM
Jl. Cikini Raya Jakarta Pusat
Waktu : 15.00 – 17.00 WIB
Fasilitator : Bagus Takwin
Pembicara : Ika Vantiani (pengamat komik), Dwinita Larasati (komikus), Beng Rahadian (komikus), Bambang Toko (komikus)

PANITIA
(c.p. Maha 08151612788, nia 08561086762)


Monday, March 5, 2007

The Way We Were (SR 91)


More photos from this event will eventually be uploaded

Thanks to our cute li'l pal Alex, we now have a collection of photographs from the good ol' days: angkatan 91 FSRD ITB. This first batch mostly consists photos from Anies' wedding in Jakarta. Another batch is when we girls had leftover films in our camera during the making of our Stone A' ID cards. Then, when we organized our own "OS" - final phase (camping!)

Weekend Happenings


I went to Jakarta with Lindri Friday afternoon, and came back to Bandung Monday morning. In between, our days were filled with many events. I'm noting them down here mainly for my own archive..


Friday 2 March


Picked up Lindri at Cendekia at about 13:00, went to CitiTrans to catch the 14:00 departure to Jakarta. Arrived at ClubStore (behind BEJ) at around 16:30; Chica and Pak Praya were already waiting. We took a spot inside ClubStore where we could sit and discuss the details concerning the arrival of our container at Tanjung Priok harbour. At about 17:30 we were done arranging stuff; I headed home and left Lindri there under the care of Eyang Ibu.


19:00 met Tiyas at Kinokuniya, Plaza Senayan. There was a launching for V for Vendetta, the Indonesian version, presenting speakers and such. It was an opportunity for me to meet, in person, some of my contacts from Komik Alternatif and Komik Indonesia mailing lists. So, that night I got to meet Beng, Anto and Alfi and many others. I and Tiyas started walking homewards at about 22:00, after successfully finding presents for Bapak and Mas Chico.


Saturday 3 March


My father's birthday. We celebrated it at his studio, inviting his staffs and colleagues as well: a birthday lunch with tumpeng, cakes and ice cream. At about 17:00 all the guests were gone and we were getting ready again to go someplace else.


18:00 I, Lindri and my parents picked up Tiyas from her ballet class, then we proceeded to Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM): there would be an opening of an exhibition called Komik DI:Y (Daerah Istimewa : Yourself). I participate in this exhibition, which goes on until March 17th, along with Athonk, Ary Pras, Bambang Toko, Beng Rahadian, Didoth, Eko Nugroho, Iwank, Ma'il, Oyas & Iput. In this event, I got to meet some old friends, too, surprisingly. Lindri couldn't be contained, she ran to every direction, charming everybody around.


If any of you finds news or publications about this exhibition, please let me know! :)


Sunday 4 March


We went to church in the morning, then waited for Tiyas (she donated her blood) after the service. Lindri was hungry so Eyang Ibu bought her a pack of 'cheese stick', which Lindri refused to share to anyone while she was munching. Just like a fierce, hungry little puppy with its snack.


Mas Chico's birthday was on the 2nd, but he held a birthday lunch this Sunday. Everything was yummy, of course, and we got to meet our families and relatives again. Fun! We got home again at about 16:00; Lindri still in a sleeping state and she kept it that way until another couple of hours. This gave us time to devour the durians that were sent to our house earlier that morning.


4 March is also Victor's birthday, which we usually attend year after year. But now that we live faraway from our Zijlstra family, we could only send him all the well-wishes through the Internet.


Monday 5 March


I and Lindri departed to Bandung with the 10:00 CitiTrans. Things went smooth and we arrived at home somewhere before 13:00. Lindri was happy to see her father again, of course, but I got a phone call from Cendekia - saying that Dhanu wanted to go home because he wanted to continue his Bionicle game that he did with Sybrand the day before. Excuses, excuses.



Well, that was our full weekend. I can hardly wait until our stuff really gets here so I can start scanning again; drawings are piling up here in my book. See you around!