Between Two Cities: A collection of watercolour sketches of Manila and Jakarta

Manila, capital of the Philippines, and Jakarta, capital of Indonesia are both massive and densely populated cities which were occupied by European colonisers back in the days. I lived in Manila for 6 years when I started working and when I had the opportunity to work overseas, Jakarta became home since 2013. I have observed many similarities with both cities like the ways and means of life and the influence of its colonisers in food, language and architecture. This inspired me to find places and objects that are comparable and turn it into watercolour sketches. 

Earlier this year, I have been thinking of publishing the sketches into a book to feature a collection of my personal watercolour sketches of places, buildings and landmarks of Manila and Jakarta. Then the pandemic hit and priorities shifted heavily towards staying alive and sane while sheltering at home since March. The sketches on location I have done were from July 2019 to early days of March 2020, pre-lockdown times and I was fortunate to meet members of Urban Sketchers Manila when I was in Manila. I am yet to join the Jakarta chapter of Urban Sketchers when this pandemic ends.

Taman Suropati, Menteng, Jakarta

There are many places I have found and sketched to compare what Manila and Jakarta both have. The Philippine post office in Manila is one of the most recognisable buildings in the city with its neo-classical architecture. In Central Jakarta, the Jakarta Philatelic Building, was built in Dutch-colonial architecture.

Jakarta Philatelic Building

Philippine Post Office Manila

In Escolta, Manila, the old Capitol Theater, which was unfortunately torn down mid of 2020, used to be one of the go-to places when Manila was still the center of entertainment and commerce. In Cikini, Jakarta, the well-preserved Metropole Jakarta still serves as one of the most important cinema houses in the city since it opened its doors in 1952. Both building are Art-deco style and was designed by local architects.

Metropole Jakarta

Capitol Theater Escolta, Manila

Here are some more of places in both cities that I have I thought were similar and share the same history despite being in two different cities.

The Manila Metropolitan Theater

The Jakarta Theater in Taman Izmail marzuki

      

The Jakarta Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral

The dome of Masjid Istiqlal in Central Jakarta

The dome of the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila

Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in South Jakarta

Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila

Kopaja, a public transport used in Jakarta

Jeepney, a common public transport used all over the Philippines

I have done actually more of these sketches which sums up to about 80+ artworks which I hope to publish one day into a book. Maybe one day, but for now this is what I would consider a preview of the book.

So long 2020. It has been swell.

jgcl

Instagram: @sigeraldto

Aku Diponegoro, Galeri Nasional Indonesia

Sang Pangeran Dalam Ingatan Bangsa. Prince Diponegoro, Indonesia's national hero, who fought for the freedom of Indonesia, whose remaining owned artefacts and contributed artworks by various artist is currently on exhibit at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia. It's a quick walk to see the battle and arrest of Diponegoro during the 19th century with these contributed paintings by different local and foreign artist. Its a must visit for all Indonesians and others.

Exhibit Opening
6 February – 8 March 2015
10 am – 7 pm
(Open for public and entrance is free)

For more information:

Website: www.akudiponegoro.com
Facebook : Goethe-Institut Indonesien
Twitter : AkuDiponegoro

Instagram : akudiponegoro

Jakarta Transportation Sketches

Here are the different transportation you will see in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. These are just some of the vehicles which causes traffic gridlock especially during rush hours.

City Sketches - Jakarta

Here is another set of sketches I did for the past month. I have been quite busy and I only have the chance now to upload these photos.

For your viewing pleasure.

Artworks were done on 8.5 x 11.5 inches sketch pad, water color and ink.

Museum Sejerah Jakarta, Kota Tua

Urban Sketching Series - Kota (Old Town), Jakarta

Here you go. Another urban sketches and artworks I have done for travelling in Jakarta, Indonesia. Kota is an old town of Jakarta and it boasts of several museums and the best on my list to visit are Museum Wayang and Museum Mandiri. I have been there on my first visit here in Jakarta in 2011. But now, I only went to Kota just for sketching and try out Cafe Batavia.

Museum Sejarah Jakarta

Sketches: Jakarta Busway

It is my first time trying this out. Watercolor sketches and hopefully I did not do a terrible job. I tried my best. I only searched for pictures online about busways in Jakarta as I could not find the time to actually go there and do an on the spot sketching. I am not really an expert on on-the-spot sketching but hopefully I can do it too soon.

Why did I choose the busway for my first try? Well this is one of the most interesting parts of life in Jakarta. It represents the daily life of the locals on a day-to-day basis. Busway is one of Jakarta's major transportation facilities and it is actually an interesting scenario whenever you take a ride on this.

So here are the sketches. I only did four for today.

About to take the bus.

Oro: A Colombian Art Invasion

In Spanish, the word "Oro" means gold. Pedro Ruiz, a Colombian artist who hailed from Bogota, introduced us to another cultural weekend at Galeri Nasional in Jakarta Indonesia. As indicated on the brochure given out at the free entry exhibit, nothing gold can stay. These paintings by Pedro Ruiz tell us that splendor is on the run, that we ourselves are on the run, that time is also a river that only in art does the river remain. It is the first of its kind that I have seen such gold painting in a canvass. The paintings have a quite similar them with a gold background paint. A man steering his boat and in each boat contains the different aspects of the human being towards life. The man represents us on how we have to move on with our lives based on what we want to carry along with us in each of our boats.

Bilingual Comics: The Little Prince Feature

For book lovers and language lovers out there, you will be glad that Gramedia, Indonesia's largest publishing house, released a series of Bilingual Comics of our beloved childhood fairy tales and famous fictional characters. This set of series which currently has 10 different story books is published in English-Bahasa Indonesia Language. It also comes with a bonus CD for the audio version of the book

I consider this to be the best souvenir I can take with me from Jakarta. Who would not be in love with these books that will help Indonesian kids and language lovers understand the story of famed fictional characters in two languages, both in English and Bahasa Indonesia in one book.

There are total of 10 books published but it was quite difficult for me to find a whole set as it ran out of stock in most bookshops. Hopefully I can complete the whole set soon.

These are the books:

   

                           The Little Prince / Pangeran Kecil      Aladdin's Magic Lamp / Aladin dan Lampu Ajaib

Bookstores in Town: Jakarta and Vientiane

A book is every teachers' twin. We are all tasked to be handling books in the most time of the day and even when we reached home. But for me, I do not just dwell on text books and work books. I also read. Mostly fictional and literary books but I am so fond of books and reading of course. In my travels, I have always wandered into different book stores, whether its a major book store or just a small and privately owned shops.

Aksara is one of my favourite bookstores in Jakarta, Indonesia. I like it because they have a nice collection of books that are with different covers unlike in what you see in major book stores. Although they only carry a few collection, the way they have carefully laid down the books on tables and shelves are just terrific. They treated books as if it is a part of decoration of the store.

You can find Aksara at Level 5, Plaza Indonesia, Jalan MH Thamrin Kav, Jakarta Indonesia. You may click the link http://www.aksara.com/index.php to access their main website.

My Top Ten Indonesian Food

So as of today, here is my Top Ten Favourite Indonesian Food (and a drink)

1. Beef Rendang - is a spicy meet dish that originated from Minangkabau, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Also known as caramelized beef curry. So far, I have best tasted this dish in Garuda Padang Cuisine.