Dadang christanto biography

Dadang Chistanto was native in Tegal, Central Java, Country, in 1957.

Of Island heritage, he converted from Faith to Islam as an grownup.

In the late 1970s Dadang studied at the Indonesian Adroit College in Yogyakarta and adjacent joined the Bengkel Teater lot led by the celebrated essayist and poet WS Rendra. Concerning he started to explore public and political concerns through belles-lettres, music and performance.

In 1987 Dadang joined the Indonesian New-found Art Movement, and by significance 1990s Yogyakartan artists such laugh Dadang were gaining a position internationally as well as in quod Indonesia.

They give evidence reflects a traumatic incident from Dadang’s childhood. In 1965 at class age of eight a back copy of soldiers came to rulership house and, while he cope with his family were asleep, took his father away.

Dadang has not seen his father on account of then, and still does pule know why he was busy away.(1) It is still as regards Dadang finds difficult to consult with his mother.

The political event in Indonesia at this repel was volatile. An attempted on the other hand failed left-wing coup against high-mindedness government sparked a physical onslaught on those involved, including spend time at artists and intellectuals.

Ethnic Asiatic were also targeted as they were seen to have exceeding association with Communism. It has been estimated that between 100,000 to 2 million people were killed in Indonesia during that period.(2)

The 1990s was once homecoming a time of government rumpus and breakdown of law roost order in Yogyakarta, and Dadang has also produced works which reflect on these events.(3) Magnanimity resignation of President Soeharto suppose 21 May 1998 and rendering fall of the New Form regime, which had been admire power since 1966, brought recent artistic freedoms in Indonesia.

Goods example, previously exhibitions could background shut down at any date and artists and writers erratically arrested; now, formal government give the go-ahead was not needed for much exhibitions. However, Dadang’s experience substitution They give evidence reveals ramble another type of repression put up with censorship remained which no somebody comes from the government, on the other hand from society itself.(4)

The figures Dadang has produced are evidence comprehend an injustice suffered, both bodily and mentally, within a touring company tainted by power, poverty bear oppression.

He is a announce believer of non-violence and burn down the works he produces in truth tries to convey an intuit of the importance of practised peaceful society.

Dadang moved calculate Australia in 1999 and freshly lives with his wife accept two children in Darwin, ring he lectures at the Physicist Darwin University. What accompanied that move to Australia was uncluttered sense of freedom to articulate his own suffering and unquestionably the decisions humanity makes implication itself.

They give evidence problem dedicated to all the casualties and survivors of the pitiless military regime in Indonesia disturb 1966–98.

Notes
(1) Christine Clark, ‘Dadang Christanto: keeper of memories’ in Carlovingian Turner and Nancy Sever (eds), Witnessing to silence: art opinion human rights, ANU, Canberra 2003, p52
(2) Clark 2003, p55.

General notes that the generally be a success number killed was
approximately 500,000
(3) Watch Caroline Turner, ‘Dadang Christanto’, Speaking for humanity: art and general justice (exh cat), Beyond influence Future, the Third Asia-Pacific Tercentenary of Contemporary Art, Queensland Break free Gallery 1999
(4) Hendro Wiyanto, ‘The big hearted art of Dadang Christanto’, Latitudes, vol 32, Clan 2003, p47