Gedung Agung

When tracing back the history of Indonesian independence in Yogyakarta you cannot leave off the President’s Residence The Residence lies upon a 43.858 square meter land and is also known as Gedung Agung. The naming was thought to be related to one of the functions of the main palace as a room for receiving noble guests.

Gedung Agung is one of the six President’s Residences in Indonesia who played an important role in the struggle for Indonesian independence and life. The other are Istana Negara and Istana Merdeka (Jakarta), Istana Bogor (Bogor), Istana Cipanas (Cipanas), and Istana Tampak Siring (Bali). The construction of Gedung Agung was initiated by Anthonie Hendriks Smissaert, the 18 head of Dutch Residency in Yogyakarta (1823-1925) who wanted to own an official office as well as residence for the Dutch Recidents in Yogyakarta. In May 1824 the Indies Governor General then appointed architect A. Payen to start the construction. The construction process was delayed due to Diponegoro War outbreak (1825-1830) which was also known as the Java War (Java Oorlog). After the war ended, the construction continued and finished in 1832. When an earthquake hit Yogyakarta on June 10 1867, the building collapsed. It was reconstructed and finished in 1869. More ... >>

EloProgo Art House

On Monday, March 15, 2010 at 11 a.m., I left for Magelang. From Km 13 Kaliurang Street, Yogyakarta, I took the alternative road northward to EloProgo Art House at Bejen, Wanurejo, Borobudur, Magelang. In this place, the heart of the archipelago, the middle of eastern and western Indonesia, I wrote a note about the fine art and culture of this art and cultural house.

Arriving at EloProgo Art House, I entered a gate with a dragon and a buffalo statues. A few meters forward, I could hear the sound of water. I parked my motorcycle and rushed to enjoy EloProgo vast river flow. I grinned, almost as wide as the coffee cup I use to drink coffee back home, a moment before i ran to that scented land.

At EloProgo Art House, I met the owner whom I used to chat on Facebook. We introduced each other, shared ideas and discussed about Malay art, culture and values. My conclusion was that the owner is a brilliant painter with egalitarian character and broad knowledge. He is Sony Santosa, the painter.

Sony Santosa was born in Curup, Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu. His mother belongs to Basemah ethnic group in South Sumatra, while his father belongs to Rejang ethnic group in Bengkulu. Sony spent his youth on the streets of Jakarta. Then, in 1989, he decided to go to Ubud, Bali, to develop painting. Two years afterwards, in 1991 – 1992, he established his Painting Gallery in Ubud. In 1993, he founded another gallery called Sony Painters Place. More ... >>