Sculptor of Devotion

Sculptor Edhi Soenarso passed away in Jakarta on January 4, at the age of 83. The Empu Agenga title equal to professor in the field of sculpturebrings to mind his monumental public works: the Selamat Datang ('Welcome'), Pembebasan Irian Barat ('Liberation of West Irian') and Dirgantara ('Aerospace') monumental statues. These sculptures are now dwarfed by tall buildings and billboards in the capital.

More than half a century ago, however, they represented a modern, post-colonial identity for a new nation: the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. President Sukarno at the time wanted to create something for the new nation that would "see it through the next 1,000 years." A strong visual articulation was called for.

January 12, 2016