Artists and activists

(II no.64, October-December 2000)

Hands

After installing scare crows around Jogja (Inside Indonesia no.64, Oct-Dec 2000), Reaching for interdependence is my recent exhibition in Australia. It was held in Knuckle, Melbourne, 17 - 21 October 2000. I had the inspiration when I was attending Dr Steve Russell's class in sociology. He was talking about Norbert Elias' idea of homo clausus or closed human being. I was aware of the idea of interdependence because I grew up in a socio-centric society, but modern life has been absorbing me to the extent that I very rarely think about how interdependent people are.

Hands play an important role in human life. In Canberra I had a chance to talk to Paul, an Aboriginal medicine man. He told me that hands symbolise the relationship of people to their land. In my culture, Javanese culture, hands symbolise a relationship not to the land nor to our ancestors but to other people. Every time Javanese meet they will shake hands and then place the hand to their own chest. This gesture is understood to mean, 'peace be with you and I bring your peace to my heart'. Therefore, I use hands in this project to show relations, interdependence among us.

Ouda Teda Ena (ouda@mailcity.com), Visiting Academic from Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, at Monash University, Melbourne, 24 October 2000

Disappointing

I found this issue of the magazine disappointing. The interview with the president got none of the prominence it deserved. When we had two highly important political stories of Gus Dur and Aceh it seemed trite to run a relatively apolitical image on the cover. There was far too much on individuals, and some written rather like personality profiles of popular women's magazines. It worries me that as we go for younger audiences, more pop culture, we are losing sight of the political purposes for which some of us set up the magazine. I am keen to hear responses from our readers.

Krishna Sen (senk@biblio.curtin.edu.au), Curtin University, Perth, Australia, 24 October 2000

Great

The issue of Inside Indonesia looks great. Whether it's just because it's 'my' area or not I must say I find it very exciting. Even the cover, with all that white has a different look and one I haven't seen before. Congrats.

Robin Laurie (nibor@vicnet.net.au), Melbourne, 19 October 2000

Over-serious

It would greatly strengthen my resolve further to support II if you would include Gus Dur's jokes as illustrative of his 'earthy wit'. II could be losing out to Gamelan by being over-serious.

Norman Wake, 10 Coronation St, Mona Vale NSW 2103, Australia, 5 April 2000