'Trophaeum (A Sign of Victory, A Monument)'

Trophaeum (A Sign of Victory, A Monument) embodies the artist’s journey of self-discovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. While cleaning up her old stuff in the house, the artist came across trophies she had accumulated for her many academic achievements in school, mainly in the subjects of Art and Graphic Design. Like many Chinese-Indonesians, excelling in school, being obedient and working hard are considered to be the key factors for future financial success. However, looking at her collection of trophies, Muliawan fails to see how they still retain any symbolism as markers of her academic ability. These items neither speak of her identity nore of her ability and means to help others during this pandemic. As such, Muliawan dismantled the trophies only to reassemble them into newly made objects. The remade trophies now consist of body parts that remind one of anatomy of Ancient Greek sculpture, hinting at the Western education system Indonesia has adopted. Arranged on a table just as how they might be displayed in the home of a proud parent, she photographs them like winners posing for a photograph. Trophaeum reflects our state of mind during the pandemic as it challenges the value we put on academic achievement and how these indicators of success have come to define us as human beings.

“The concept of tomorrow allows us to think about the future which is something that has not played out in reality. It makes us anticipate what is coming ahead, reflect on what has passed, fear the mishaps that may occur, but still survive another with hope that the best is yet to come. This is what distinguishes us from other creatures in the world. Without thinking about “Tomorrow”, we cannot become complete as human beings”.

​

​

Text by Santy Saptari