Cempaka Culture and Tourism: Picturing the Past at the Antara Gallery

"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it), Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse), Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“… The Shift in Human Nature

You're starting to see integrity change. Awareness recalibrates integrity, and the Human Being who would sit there and take advantage of another Human Being in an old energy would never do it in a new energy. The reason? It will become intuitive, so this is a shift in Human Nature as well, for in the past you have assumed that people take advantage of people first and integrity comes later. That's just ordinary Human nature.

In the past, Human nature expressed within governments worked like this: If you were stronger than the other one, you simply conquered them. If you were strong, it was an invitation to conquer. If you were weak, it was an invitation to be conquered. No one even thought about it. It was the way of things. The bigger you could have your armies, the better they would do when you sent them out to conquer. That's not how you think today. Did you notice?

Any country that thinks this way today will not survive, for humanity has discovered that the world goes far better by putting things together instead of tearing them apart. The new energy puts the weak and strong together in ways that make sense and that have integrity. Take a look at what happened to some of the businesses in this great land (USA). Up to 30 years ago, when you started realizing some of them didn't have integrity, you eliminated them. What happened to the tobacco companies when you realized they were knowingly addicting your children? Today, they still sell their products to less-aware countries, but that will also change.

What did you do a few years ago when you realized that your bankers were actually selling you homes that they knew you couldn't pay for later? They were walking away, smiling greedily, not thinking about the heartbreak that was to follow when a life's dream would be lost. Dear American, you are in a recession. However, this is like when you prune a tree and cut back the branches. When the tree grows back, you've got control and the branches will grow bigger and stronger than they were before, without the greed factor. Then, if you don't like the way it grows back, you'll prune it again! I tell you this because awareness is now in control of big money. It's right before your eyes, what you're doing. But fear often rules. …”

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Picturing the Past at the Antara Gallery

Jakarta Globe, Tasa Nugraza Barley, January 27, 2010

Posters on the building’s facade from the time of independence. (JG Photos/Tasa Barley)

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. This is especially true for photojournalists who chronicle historical events through a camera lens.

One place that prominently displays these important photos is the Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara (Antara Gallery of Photojournalism) in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.

“Aspiring photojournalists can take pride if their photos are displayed in this great building,” said Budi Chandra, a 30-year-old photographer who freelances for newspapers and magazines. “It’s amazing because one photo can be interpreted in many different ways.”

The Antara Gallery prides itself on being the country’s first and only venue dedicated to photojournalism.

The building itself is rich in history — it was once the headquarters of the government news agency Antara, which was founded on Dec. 13, 1937. The agency played an active role in the country’s formation when journalists used the building as their headquarters to announce Indonesia’s independence to the rest of the world in 1945.

Now, this beautiful, three-story Dutch colonial building is divided into several sections. The photo gallery can be found on the first floor, but this area remains empty when there is no photography exhibition.

Ricky Adrian, a gallery representative, explained that the exhibitions are not limited only to journalism but also cover other types of photography.

He added that the gallery welcomes anyone who wished to hold an event or exhibition at the venue.

The gallery’s latest photo exhibit was “Maling Jemuran,” or Laundry Thief, which went on display from Jan. 9 to 16, organized by Jakarta’s Art Council. The exhibit focused on jemuran , or clothes being hung up to dry.

Next to the photo gallery, there’s a place where photographers can hang out and exchange stories. Ricky, who is a photojournalist himself, said that the Neo Journalism Club area can seat about 40 people. “Photographers can just come and talk about things related to their work — or anything, really,” he said.

Another area of interest at the Antara gallery is the small journalism museum on the second floor. The museum’s collection includes old cameras, typewriters, production and communication equipment and furniture that were all used by Antara’s journalists during the Dutch colonial period. In addition, the museum also has several news photos depicting the Indonesian people’s contribution toward the process of decolonization.

Antara utilizes the building’s third floor as the office for its photography department.

“It’s every photographer’s dream that someday he or she can have an exhibition so people can see and appreciate their work,” Budi said. “And Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara is the best place to do it.”

Budi explained that the highest appreciation any photojournalist can receive is when they can have a positive impact on society through their photos. He added that photojournalists are different from other photographers because they have the obligation to make people aware of important issues through their photos.

“And to get that kind of appreciation, they have to exhibit,” he said.

Ricky said photographers in Indonesia hold the Antara Gallery of Photojournalism in such high regard because of its longstanding dedication, not just to the art of photography, but also because of its historical background as well.

“I can’t name any other place in Jakarta that has the same prestige and quality,” Budi said.

An upcoming gallery event will be a photo exhibition called “China Town” by Singaporean photographer Zhuan Wubin. The exhibition, which will showcase Chinese culture around Southeast Asia, will run from Feb. 5 to 21.

Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara (Antara Gallery of Photojournalism)
Jalan Antara No. 59
Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta
Tel: 021 345 8771
E-mail: gfja@gfja.org
www.gfja.org