Gelanggang Credentials Published By Chairil Anwar, Asrul Sani, Rivai Apin, And Cs: Concept Of Life And Art Of The '45 Generation

The bearers of the Merdeka Artists' Court (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - In 1946, an artist association founded the Free Artists Center. The association was initiated by a triad of figures from the '45 generation, namely Chairil Anwar, Asrul Sani, and Rivai Apin. The name 'gelanggang' comes from the name of the cultural space for the weekly magazine Siasat, namely the arena. The arena is also used as a space for the artists of the association to spark ideas, ideas and aspirations.

The Free Artists Center is filled with artists from various fields, such as authors, painters, musicians, and others. The members, namely Mochtar Apin who is a painter, Henk Nantung, Baharuddin MS, Basuki Resobowo, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Usmar Ismail, Mochtar Lubis, and Sitor Situmorang.

Quoted from the Indonesian Literary Criticism Study (2009) written by Yudiono KS, the purpose of the association is to be responsible for the creation of the nation, to maintain and nourish the ideals that are born from upheaval of mind and spirit, and to incorporate those ideals and foundations into all activities.

Meanwhile, based on the Kemendikbud Encyclopedia, the motivation behind the birth of this artist association was the idealism of the '45 generation of artists to escape from the ties or influences of the previous generation and also the rulers who they considered hypocritical and stifle artistic creativity. They oppose chauvinism and adhere to the idea that art is universal, not compartmentalized.

Gelanggang Credentials

After that, the "Gelanggang Credential Letter" was born. The letter was published on October 22, 1950 and served as the basis of guidance for members of the Free Artists Center. Gelanggang Trust Letter is published through a weekly magazine, Siasat. The issuance of the Gelanggang Trust Letter took place two months after the People's Cultural Institute (Lekra) as a PKI organ was completely formed.

"Lekra actually not only succeeded in 'adopting' some of the things contained in the 'Gelanggang Trust Letter', but was also able to capture the momentum when this nation began to run its government without undermining the Dutch," said Maman S. Mahayana in Akar Melayu: System Literature & Ideological Conflicts in Indonesia & Malaysia (2001).

However, not all members of the Free Artists' Hall were so loyal to the association. Quoting Tirto, a number of people in the Free Artists Center, such as Basuki Resobowo, Rivai Apin, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Baharuddin MS, and Henk actually changed their attitudes and crossed over to Lekra.

Over time, the evolving young generations began to undergo decolonization. Awareness of the importance of cultural heritage is increasing rapidly. The youth of the 1950-1960s formulated and announced their manifesto through the "Gelanggang Trust Letter."

Until now, people always refer to the 'Gelanggang Belief Letter' when they want to formulate the '45 Generation's conception of life and art. The Gelanggang Trust Letter produced by Gelanggang Seniman Merdeka seems to be the ideal foundation of the '45 Generation.