Blank Spot

Photography: Ferintus Karbon

[Photo Exhibition "Blank Spot" will go at December 7 to 22, 2007. This will be opened at Friday, December 7, at 7pm. There ia an artist talk after the Opening. Mr Tjahjono Rahardjo, lecturer of PMLP Soegijapranata Catholic University, is going to deliver his ideas on the site where was a Dutch colonial living area. This event is fully supported by Yayasan Widya Mitra Semarang. The Management welcome photographers and art lovers to enjoy the show with no admission. Thank you.]

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Photo exhibition “Blank Spot” is designed based on intensive observations to an area which is neglected for a long time. The Old Town of Semarang was a Dutch colonial living area. Its buildings reflect European’s architectural. Now the purpose of the area is not clearly yet for what.

The government seems had no idea how to revitalise it. By the reasons having no fund, the government cannot handle the regular floods covering the area. Indeed the area will be a promising tourism spot if it were developed well.

The chalenge is how to change the area into a contemporary cultural center which cover all public aspirations.

The “Blank Spot” were supposed as no occupants area, between existed and non-existed. All photos describe not only the area’s potencies but included its problems.

Five photographers – Agus Leonardus, Ferintus Karbon, Goenadi Haryanto, Hendro Wasito, and William Wong – took pictures with their own spirits and different styles. Those photos are voiceless notes on some parts of the town which are now more languid.

Tubagus P. Svarajati,

Exhibition Curator

an ongoing URBAN poem

Photography: Roy Voragen

The photo exhibition "an ongoing URBAN poem" by Roy Voragen will be opened on Friday, November 9, 2007 at 7pm. The exhibition goes to November 24, 2007. This exhibition is a join programme between Rumah Seni Yaitu and Widya Mitra Foundation. The Ambassador of the Netherlands, His Excellency Dr Nikolaos van Dam scheduled to officiate it.

After the opening ceremony there is an artist's talk. Triyono Lukmantoro, a lecturer at Diponegoro University, will deliver his observation on Roy's photos.

Accompanying his exhibition Roy Voragen will give a street photography workshop for public free of charge. The workshop runs from November 6 to 9 at 9am.
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Roy Voragen – born in Heerlen, the Netherlands – took part in an artist-in-residence programme at Rumah Seni Yaitu Semarang for five weeks from June 25th to July 29th, 2007. This programme was fully supported by Widya Mitra Foundation Semarang.

During his residency Roy captured the city and its daily life. He explored the city’s insight and its problems. As a street photographer he paid attention on urbanity subject matter.

As long as he walked through the city’s streets he often lost his sense of direction. But he enjoyed it anyway. “In these in between moments of losing sense of direction I can make photos that give me sense to the city,” he said.

Roy’s photos show us some aspects. Those photos are documentary city’s life in a particular time. Through his photos he learns how to understand Indonesian culture and those also as a method of introducing who he is.

Roy Voragen lives in Indonesia since 2003. He teaches philosophy in Parahyangan Catholic University Bandung. His essays were published in some national newspapers and journals.