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Part II: Artist-activist Mumtaz Khan Chopan’s tale of fleeing Afghanistan for Indonesia
An Afghan-born Yogyakarta artist escaped death and destruction in his homeland before settling in Indonesia. Today, he uses art to help free others like him from marginalization and oppression.This is part two of a two-part story. Part one was published yesterday.
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War-torn: Chopan's photography work, Kabul City (2012), pictures a multilayered digital photograph, a technique that he's quite keen on using in photography, of the city where Chopan studied art. (Courtesy Mumtaz Khan Chopan) (Courtesy Mumtaz Khan Chopan)
A
n Afghan-born Yogyakarta artist escaped death and destruction in his homeland before settling in Indonesia. Today, he uses art to help free others like him from marginalization and oppression.
This is part two of a two-part story. Part one was published yesterday.
Chopan was confused the first time he ordered food at a warung (stall) in Indonesia, where people ate plain white rice. In Afghanistan, rice was served with spices.
Before he reached the country’s shores, Chopan saw Indonesia through an idealized lens. “Sometimes you’d [imagine] a romanticized version of people’s lives. I was falling into that romanticism while Afghanistan was depressing.” But now things were unraveling.
He lived in Cisarua, West Java, for three months, among other refugees from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Chopan grew tired of the routine, where they were primarily busy with chores, cooking and playing cards. He felt like he was losing his purpose.
Moving out on his own and renting a room on Jl. Suryakencana in Bogor, Chopan yearned to make art. He traveled weekly on the commuter line (KRL) to Jakarta.
“Taman Ismail Marzuki, the Goethe Institut, Balai Budaya, Cemara 6, Dia.Lo.Gue – any gallery in Jakarta. Ruang Rupa – I used to go to those places.”
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