My inspiration came from the question: “What would you do if these crackers were real pistols?” (1977). This piece was created by F.X. Harsono, who wanted to make people think about the infiltration of violence into everyday life by posing this thought-provoking question.
In the exhibition, F.X. Harsono not only left pink, pistol-shaped crackers piled on the floor, but he also included a book, a wooden desk, a chair, a pen, and the question itself as part of the artwork. I chose this piece because it intrigued me—it made me think about something I had never really considered before. The colors also stood out to me, particularly the different shades of pink, which made me wonder why he chose them.
In my piece, I used different shades of pink to represent the guns that Harsono displayed in his exhibition, as they, too, varied in shade. The background is designed to resemble gunpowder, with different shades of gray that mimic the residue released after a gunshot. The bright orange-pink numbers are meant to look piled on top of each other, symbolizing the original guns from Harsono’s exhibition and how they were stacked together.
I specifically chose the number 1965 to reference the tragic event on September 30, 1965, in Indonesia, where six generals and one officer were killed by gunfire. This was a devastating moment in history, and I wanted to connect the guns, the date, and the victims through my artwork.
Another reason I selected this piece was a personal one. When I was younger, I used to eat crackers that came in different shapes—triangles, squares—and various shades of pink. They had a slight strawberry flavor, and as a child, I loved them. Seeing these pistol crackers reminded me of those childhood snacks, which is why I used a square and a triangle to symbolize bullets.
For this painting, I used different materials to create various textures. I started by coating the background with different shades of gray using a sponge to create a foggy, powder-like effect. Then, I added the ‘bullets’ or crackers using a stencil and sponge, once again incorporating various shades to reflect both Harsono’s guns and my childhood crackers. Finally, I layered the numbers in a slightly orange hue—a mix of dark red and the color of the crackers—to represent the deaths of the seven victims.
The most challenging part of this project was choosing the right color combinations. It wasn’t easy to find a color that would contrast with the bright neon pink bullets and smoky gray background while still staying within the intended color palette. However, I believe I successfully composed my idea, balancing multiple layers of meaning while keeping the artwork original and impactful.