Fletcher Features
The Gift of a Gallery: Cabot Hall’s Indonesian Art
A quick glance around the fourth floor of Cabot Hall reveals a rich history of a nation with close ties to The Fletcher School. From the Miller Room to the Offices of the Academic Dean and Senior Associate Dean—and the halls between—the walls are adorned with the artwork of Indonesia, a gift of His Excellency Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, F84, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister.
On September 28, Senior Associate Dean Nutter welcomed the Foreign Minister’s wife, Mrs. Herawati Wirajuda SH for an informal visit to view the pieces on display. Her visit coincided with official business for both she and her husband in the United States. Mrs. Wirajuda holds a special post within the Indonesian government to promote the culture, and specifically the artistry, of the Indonesian people in Southeast Asia and around the world.
For those who have met with Academic Dean Peter Uvin in his office, it is nearly impossible to overlook the ornate gateway installation that spans the length of one wall. Looking on the piece with pride and admiration, Mrs. Wirajuda described the work of the artisan carvers who crafted the piece more than a century ago.
“This gate would have taken more than three months,” explained Wirajuda, of the gate that was carved in Central Java. “Although the carvers receive no formal art training, they craft since the time they are very young. It is an art that is passed down through families, through generations.”
From Central Java, other pieces of art throughout the floor move geographically to Bali, where the life of farmers and homemakers at market are depicted. Viewers of the installations will notice the ornate frames surrounding the paintings, more products of Indonesia’s woodcarvers.
Her current work finds Mrs. Wirajuda seeking to promote the artistry of Indonesia, to protect its ancient works, and through education to buyers around the world, separate Indonesia’s unique craftsmanship from lesser-quality counterfeit art produced in the region.
The Fletcher School has a long history of educating Indonesian diplomats. Over the past five years, The Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) has worked with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry to educate their most promising future leaders.