JAKARTA - Remembering today, three years ago, December 12, 2022, the upload of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam), Mahfud MD regarding the painting of Gus Dur with a bare chest on Twitter/X brought about a commotion. The painting by artists Butet Kartaredjasa and Sigit Santosa was condemned by many parties.
Previously, Mahfud often shared stories about his closeness to Gus Dur. He also often spread Gus Dur's jokes that made people laugh. Most of his stories can be accepted by many parties. However, not with the painting of a naked Gus Dur.
The closeness of Mahfud MD and Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) is unquestionable. Mahfud often considers Gus Dur as a special figure. Likewise the other way around. Gus Dur considers Mahfud as a figure of integrity and intelligence.
This condition makes Gus Dur often give space to Mahfud to be creative in national politics. Mahruf was once trusted by Gus Dur to be a minister in 2000. Mahfud was then given space to explore the legislative (people's representative) and judicial (Constitutional Judge) realms.
As a result, the closeness between Mahfud and Gus Dur is unquestionable. Mahfud often has many stories related to Gus Dur's figure. Instead of just serious stories, Mahfud actually reveals a lot of Gus Dur's humor.
English:
Mahfud as if revealing the humorous side of Gus Dur. Even though Gus Dur has been gone since 2009. Take an example of Gus Dur's joke about Jakarta traffic jams. Mahfud said Gus Dur felt that Jakarta traffic jams were often a hot topic for any Indonesian leader.
They are often challenged to be able to solve the problem of congestion. Gus Dur did not immediately answer with serious study. Gus Dur answered with humor. He thought that Jakarta's traffic jam could be overcome when he had only been President of Indonesia for two days.
Previously, Gus Dur usually needed two hours from Ciganjur to the State Palace. Now Gus Dur only needs 40 minutes. The joke was shared by Mahfud on his Twitter/X social media account on December 10, 2022.
"It's easy to overcome traffic jams in Jakarta. Only two days I'm President, Jakarta is not jammed. Usually from Ciganjur to the Palace takes two hours, so when I became President it only took 40 minutes," Gus Dur said when entering the Palace on the second day after being inaugurated as President. "I miss you, Gus," said Mahfud via Twitter/X @mohmahfudmd, December 10, 2022.
At first glance, there is no problem with the story told by Mahfud MD. However, the problem arises because the story is attached with a photo of Mahfud posing with a painting of Gus Dur with his chest bare. A painting by Butet Kartaredjasa and Sigit Santosa.
The public was widely criticized for Butet's painting and became a polemic on December 12, 2022. They considered it inappropriate to portray Gus Dur, who was respected, as bare-chested. Butet and Mahfud were attacked with criticism from here and there. The painting was called an insult to Gus Dur.
At its peak, Butet as the owner of the painting raised his voice. He confirmed that the painting was made with Sigit Santosa in 2013. The painting was given the title Moksa Menuju Surga. He emphasized that the painting was a symbol of holy people going to heaven.
As a result, those who criticize are considered to need to broaden their horizons in the art realm. This condition is because the painting has actually received the blessing of Gus Dur's own family. There is no harassment of Gus Dur in the work Moksa Menuju Surga.
"This uses an idiom that Sigit Santosa and I know about Christ the King. We have to think positively that this is a symbol of a holy person who goes to heaven. Before it was executed into a work, I had already discussed the idea with Gus Dur's family. "
"Gus Dur's family all know this painting. Gus Dur's family alone feel that this is not an abuse. This is an honor. I am sad if someone thinks this is an abuse," said Butet as quoted by lamandetik.com, December 12, 2022.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
