FX Harsono, who was born in Blitar, Java, studied painting at the Indonesia Fine Art Academy, Yogyakarta from 1969 to 1974, and between 1987 and 1991 studied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Jakarta Arts Institute. Harsono's work comprises sculptural installations, prints and photographs. He has visited Australia several times and was artist-in-residence at the University of South Australia (1992) and was represented in the 'First Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' at Queensland Art Gallery in 1993. Harsono's work has been shown in major international survey exhibitions throughout Asia.

The installation Demokrasi is a telling representation of contemporary art in Jakarta. The city has changed radically since becoming the national capital after Indonesian independence in 1945. It is the centre of political and economic power and the media. Journalism is volatile because of the restrictions imposed on reporting the activities of government and financial figures. This sequence of photographs, of hands spelling out 'Democracy' in sign language, is a plea on behalf of those without a voice. The hand tied with rope, which forms the last letter of the word, suggests how difficult it is to achieve freedom. For Harsono, art is a way of breaking through the silence for people who cannot speak. Demokrasi is a subtle work with layers of meaning. By using sign language Harsono suggests many things. It is a 'secret' language which most people cannot understand. In this photographic installation, this special code is like a hidden communication between those who must secretly share their hopes for greater freedom. The simplicity of these documentary black and white is a reminder of the photojournalism of newspapers, which often are not permitted to tell the full story. Harsono has said:

'At the end of 1973, I began to become dissatisfied with imaginary space and cold forms which did not concern my aspirations concerning social problems. The understanding of an artist is the understanding of a human being, which cannot be separated in any way from the destiny of mankind as social beings. Social problems and the culture of a given people cannot be separated from the creation of art: the art produced must reflect the problems of society, while instilling awareness in the observer. These social problems are a part of our collective existence and experience. It is upon this basis that I create my art as an expressive form which attempts to remind the observer of the problems we are facing together: the creation of art is the taking of a concrete stance.

'I am fully aware that every step of my life constitutes an extremely small part within a cultural journey within the society where I live. Subjugation of my life makes me realise that society and I myself cannot be separated. My work entitled "Demokrasi" came into being from thoughts and beliefs that the silencing of talk, the restriction of freedom and the manipulation of information do not necessarily mean that society will be silent. Society will look for alternatives in order to express its exploitation.'(1)

1. Kirker, Anne, Morrell, Timothy & Clark, Christine. The spiritual and the social [exhibition catalogue], Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane, 1995, p.10.

This sequence of photographs, which spells out the word ‘democracy’ in sign language, is Indonesian artist FX Harsono’s plea on behalf of those without a voice. The last hand is tied with rope. Produced at a time of widespread censorship toward the end of President Suharto’s New Order regime, Demokrasi is a subtle work the meaning of which is necessarily hidden in a ‘secret’ language; the word is translated only when viewers stamp the pieces of paper provided, revealing itself letter by letter. This game-like code suggests communication between those who must share their hopes for greater freedom secretly. The simplicity of the black-and-white newsprint-style images alludes to photojournalism, which is often not permitted to tell the full story. For Harsono, art is one way of breaking through the silence for those who cannot speak freely.