Heri Dono: 'The Game'
In: Heri Dono. Edited by David Elliott and Gilane Tawadros. Published by the Institute of International Visual Arts, London in association with the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, 1996, pp. 18-21
Human beings live in a cartoon life - a life just to exist, to survive. They are powerless but have a spiritual desire to resist oppression from ignorant and violent authority. They still have a spirit, soul ... even though this is not valued. They play with the appearances of life and believe that 'reality' is what they see on TV, in films, magazines, books and videos.
People have to survive even though the terror of oppression is watching them. They do not panic even when they know that there is no future.
People find it difficult to confront and express the truth and the reality of their lives. Fear is the disease which prevents them from saying what they want to say. The word of truth cannot always run in a straight course but like the Kris (Javanese knife), has a wavering edge. Some people have to use a coded, slang language, or write grafitti as the only means by which authority and government can be criticised.
Figures of authority are but puppets themselves to the government. But, we are all characters living in the same video game, powerless to control our own lives with obstacles and traps in our path and at every turn. Failure to complete the course means that you don't survive the game while those who score enough points can go on to play in the next challenge. Our destiny can do nothing but follow this compulsory and often treacherous route out of which there can be no escape. Like walking through a jungle full of land-mines, you risk losing your leg or your life as well as your soul. In this game there are no good or bad characters; the hero, the streetfighter, the leader and the bandit are one and the same. In real life the only difference between the bandit and the policeman is that one is an official.
One day there was a discussion between a General and a Captain from the same army. The Captain started talking about democracy. At the end of the discussion the General became angry and disagreed with the Captain. The next day the Captain was discharged from duty.
There is a traditional Javanese cake called Semar Mendem which means 'the drunkenness of Semar' (a Semar is a figure from the Wayang Kulit who is a priest, a wise man and a joker who lives in low class society but who is actually a god). The leaders of government when speaking on TV may appease the masses with their wisdom and sweet charm but their abuse of power belies this sweetness. I used to eat the cake but now I perform it.
Heri Dono
20 October 1995