Monday, June 27, 2011

MONUMENTS STILL NOT BUILT

Monuments of the coming future,
you advance on us by yourselves.
I hear the cast-iron tread.
I hear the voice of bronze.
There can be no rebuilding
without rebuilding memory,
and without rebuilding monuments
to those who built us.
Now is your time, monuments,
the time of honest marble.
(Yevgeny Yevtushenko)

A Glimpse of Past Victory of Gowa Royalty - FORT SOMBA OPU

Fort Somba Opu was one of the sturdiest citadels that are ever built by Indonesian. This fort is the witness of Sultan Hassanudin and his people persistency to defend their independence (William Wallace, British Scientist)


(After discovered in 1980 by Indonesia researchers, the wall finally excavated and reconstructed in 1990s to be tourist objects)

One of outer part wall that was successfully excavated. The thickness of wall that was made by brick was approximately 3.6 m and its height was 7 – 8 m.
Fort Somba Opu was built in early 15 century by King Gowa IX, Karaeng Tumapakrisi Kallonna. In 1545, King Gowa X, Karaeng Tunipallangga Ullaweng, was strengthening the wall with stony soil. In the era of Tunijallo, King Gowa XII, the fort was armed with heavy artilleries at every bastion. One of astounding canon was Child of Makassar that was in 9500 weight, 6 m long and 4.14 cm in diameter.


(The only 300m wall that is rediscovered and successfully excavated. The wall of Fort Somba Opu must be demolished as part of Bongaya Treaty that was signed by Sultan Hassanudin in 1667)

Nowadays the height of outer wall is only 2 m because of Dutch’s demolition in 1669 and 400 years of sedimentation from sea. The demolition is happened after 40 days and 40 nights battle with Sultan Hassanudin and his troops.
Fort Somba Opu is located at Sapiria Village, Somba Opu Sub-district, Gowa Regency. It’s only 7 km southern of Karebosi square, zero point of Makassar City. There are no obvious landmarks that separate the fort with citizen houses.  In 1500 hectares wide, the fort, which is merged with its neighborhood, is known as South Sulawesi Miniatures that contains 24 traditional houses from 24 regency and 4 ethnicities such as Bugis, Makassar, Toraja and Mandar. Traditional house from Singkang is converted into Museum Karaeng Pattingalloang.

(Traditional House from Gowa Regency in neglected paradise)

(Traditional House from Toraja Regency in badly needed restoration into its original state)


Traditional house from Gowa Regency and Toraja Regency that badly needed restoration into its glorious condition.

There is no exact opening hour for this borderless citadel but without electricity, tour around the fort can be done during daylight. Tourist can reach this fort using taxi (don’t be confused with Somba Opu street where tourist can buy souvenirs) or Pete-Pete (public minibus) that is stationed +/- 3 km from the fort. Pete-Pete route is Karebosi SquareCendrawasih Road then change into other Pete-Pete Cendrawasih RoadDaeng Tata Road.

(Without events and good promotion, these traditional houses are another graveyard for Indonesian masterpieces)

Somba Opu is one of fort that part of defense system for Gowa Royalty in 15th - 16th century.
The wall was rediscovered in 1980s by Indonesian researchers and because of it location and extensive territory (1500 ha), Governor South Sulawesi at that time transformed the fort into The Miniature of South Sulawesi that contains 24 traditional houses from 24 Regency in South Sulawesi. One of traditional house, from Singkang Regency, is converted into museum namely Karaeng Pattingallaong ( I will write down about this museum later on).


(Museum Karaeng Pattingalloang. The overlook of glorious Gowa Monarchy in 15th-16th century)

(A glance of Somba Opu in 15th - 16th century. This map is placed at the ceiling of the Museum Karaeng Pattingalloang that can see easily through mirror on the moving desk)

Some part of Somba Opu and Rotterdam are the only fort that survives from demolishment from Dutch administration. Because one of pact from Bongaya Treaty that signed by Sultan Hassanudin in 1667 is demolishment all forts that belong to Gowa Royalty except Rotterdam that was adapted into the base of Dutch administration.
The fort is at Sapiria Village, Somba Opu Sub-district, Gowa Regency (+/- 7 km from Karebosi Square). The opening hour for museum is 9AM - 4PM (local time) and entrance fee is Rp 2,000.- There is no visible marker/landmark for the fort , so it opens during daylight because there is almost no electricity in fort area. ~ By SEKAR CHAMDI

Saturday, June 25, 2011

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Museums and art stores are also sources of pleasure and inspiration. Doubtless it will seem strange to many that the hand unaided by sight can feel action, sentiment, beauty in the cold marble; and yet it is true that I derive genuine pleasure from touching great works of art. As my finger tips trace line and curve, they discover the thought and emotion which the artist has portrayed. (Helen Keller)

MUSEUM NUSANTARA

(Museum Nusantara, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta)

Museum of Indonesia (Museum Nusantara) is one of the buildings located at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, located next to the Management Bldg, facing to the South. Start up in 1976 on a land area of 20,100 sqm, while the main building area is only 7000sqm. This museum is expected to be an asset of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in developing recreational activities, not only in the form of educative recreation but also develop an interactive proactive recreation that can generate creativity, especially for the younger generation.
(photo collection of TMII)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

MUSEUM GAJAH

(Museum Nasional, Jakarta)
Nice architecture, but so quiet ... need more promotion to get visitors

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

... FINE INSTITUTIONS ...

Individually, museums are fine institutions, dedicated to the high values of preservation, education and truth; collectively, their growth in numbers points to the imaginative death of this country - (Robert Hewison)

HISTORY ...

History is representational, while time is abstract; both of these artifices may be found in museums, where they span everybody's own vacancy - (Robert Smithson)

484th ANNIVERSARY ...



HAPPY 484th ANNIVERSARY to JAKARTA ... 

MUSEUM ...

(Museum Fatahillah Jakarta)


Museums have no life as such but when they convey a lot of information, they carry life. “Museums are cemeteries of art’ says a quote. “In museums and palaces, we are alternate radicals and conservatives” said Henry James. It is the duty of every country to preserve their archeological belongings in the museum and their rich heritage.