For Hardiman Radjab, popularly known as Diman, the world of objects is the source of creative inspirations. Amidst his work as a lecturer and the head of department in the Jakarta Art Institute, Diman continued to explore many objects around him. In the beginning, his artisanship was revealed through the making of wooden things. He reproduced various objects, enlarging or compressing them, creating gigantic zippers or building miniatures. Diman therefore was playing around with the lives of those objects.

His solo exhibition in Taman Ismail Marzuki, titled "Serikat Barang" ("Union of Things", 2002), revealed that Diman was not merely making reproductions or moving things around. By using daily objects such as a flatiron, a type-machine, a motor vehicle, or even a car, Diman was able to develop further the images of these objects, linking them to various other things or feelings. Just like a child, Diman used his imaginations and created objects that appeared to have feelings and dreams. Diman let his fantasy go free, exploring various objects, associating these objects with many other things and events.

In his later works, Diman was able to go beyond the artistic possibilities of his media. In some of his works, such as Cine Wood (1989), In Memoriam World Trade Center (2001), and Food Supplement (2002), Diman changed the values and meanings of things. As Jim Supangkat wrote in the catalogue of "Serikat Barang" ("Union of Things"), Diman worked like a factory worker: "He worked on the wood, without having any 'dialogue' with it, but forming things just like a worker in construction works."

Hardiman was also widely involved in the performing arts, as the artistic director of movies and performances. He, for example, was involved in "Romeo dan Juliet" ("Romeo and Juliet,"1990), the operetta "Lenggang-lenggok Batavia" ("Batavia Moves," 1990), and the drama "Manusia Terakhir" ("The Last Human," 1990). Diman was also busy in the building of monuments, dioramas, sculptures, and the making of decorated cars. Diman's activities in theaters as an artistic director had enriched his experience and therefore smoothened his creative processes, especially when he wanted to convey messages through objects and things.

In this biennale, Diman offers us his meditation on life journeys. Using objects such as an old trunk that "breathes" using a mechanical system, and a seat from a railroad platform, on which the trunk is placed, the work tells of the essence of life as a journey. In this work, titled Long Journey, the trunk is a metaphor for a journey, as people who are on journeys would always carry cases. The chair, meanwhile, symbolizes the place where people waited before their departures, such as in railway stations or in airports.

Chandra Johan

Born on July 13, 1960 in Malang.
Studied at Jakarta Institute of The Arts (IKJ), Jakarta (BFA; 1998).

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2002 "Serikat Barang", Cipta II Gallery, Ismail Marzuki Cultural Centre (TIM), Jakarta.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2000 Sculptors ex- IKJ Students, Senayan Plaza; "30 years IKJ", Graha Bakti Budaya, TIM, Jakarta.
2001 "Contemporary Craftworks", National Gallery, Jakarta; "Jakarta Sculptors Works", Cipta II Gallery, TIM, Jakarta.
2002 "32 years IKJ", National Gallery, Jakarta; Metro Mini Group, Cipta II Gallery, TIM, Jakarta.

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