Bhayangkara

Sigit’s deep curiosity about the police identity encourages him to go deeper through their historical path. He is concerned about the term Bhayangkara, also the other name of the Indonesian National Police Force. Bhayangkara is a recommendation from one of Indonesia’s founders, Soekarno; in one of his speeches, he mentioned that the National Police Force must take the spirit of Bhayangkara, a loyal guardian army of the king in the Majapahit Empire era (13th century). He also suggests that the National Police Force must refer to Bhayangkara as the ‘way of life’ when they are on duty.

Bhayangkara in Majapahit Empire was a special force that guarded the king with all his interests. While Bhayangkara in Indonesia today were the law enforcement unit responsible for maintaining public order and security. According to fundamental differences in task orientation and authority within the past and nowadays, the relevances of the Bhayangkara concept need to be reviewed. So why is it still used?

Sigit tried to trace back the identity of Bhayangkara through the subjective interpretation of an artist. Based on society’s perspective, which has become a phenomenon in several parts of the world towards the institution that is now being highlighted. Not only in Indonesia, it has become a critical issue that is also happening in several countries, especially in Asia. In this late situation, repressive actions often come up when they escort society to express their aspirations; there is a tendency from this institution to become a tool to secure the ruling authority.

Sigit’s works can represent one of the sociopolitical problems that are happening now, to be a critic of the tension between law enforcement institutions and society. To accommodate his ideas, Sigit primarily uses woodcut printmaking techniques, and historically, it was used as a propaganda medium to influence the audience’s perception of social and political issues. With a distinctive visual character, he made printmaking as an art medium to communicate simultaneously with a large number of people.