A 70s picnic and the Black December Statement at the National Gallery

The 70s of Indonesia was a time of transition. The decade before it was filled with political turmoil, what with the event of the mass genocide of 1965–66 and Soeharto’s rise to power. The 70s then became a time when things have somewhat calmed down and the people were able to pursue their lives in peace. Supposedly. <img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*mbckfIABunHkJ7GSIc_ZSw.jpeg" style="height:510px; width:700px" /> Painting by S. Bardhi. Installation view at Galeri Nasional. Photo Courtesy of Dea Ratna. The exhibition Piknik 70-an held at Galeri Nasional certainly gave that impression. The first room of abstract paintings reflected a nation that was free to pursue more esoteric passion, instead of using their art to fight oppression or to tell the stories of the silenced. Artists like Irsam and Wardaya Sugianto explored the lyricism and aesthetic beauties in shapes and forms. They explored colors and even techniques. There were paintings aplenty and sculptures to marvel over. <a href="https://medium.com/@hypercaring5/a-70s-picnic-and-the-black-december-statement-at-the-national-gallery-4297ec21210">Website</a>