Sunday, August 21, 2005

Garden in Museum?

The interior of the hall was dark, I guessed electricity was being conserved. As I walked deeper. I saw this big skull protruding out of a wall. Was I shocked? Nah.. people were around. I guess I'm worried of the same kind than the scary rock. The reason being me not trusting the man that suggested my entry to the museum. I was so eager to spot an elephant.. hehehe. Pithecanthropus a sculpture by artist named Suherman. This resembled a homa erectus fossil some 800,000 years ago found in middle Jakarta. It must be a dinosaur then. Elephant, elephant where are they? Carried myself deeper in to the museum. As I was closing to an arch there was light being blocked by something that is big. Got to be an elephant. I was excited.

Went passed the arch into another partition. My eyes was adjusting to the light. Squinting, looking around. To my dismay, not an elephant around. A lot of rock sculpture laying around. Some of them broken, can't tell what it is. I continue to a bright opening in front of me. Now I know what was the big thing that blocked the lighting earlier. Is a big statue of a human. Beneath the human statue leg, skulls were arranged in a cricle. What does it protray? I am not able to enlighten. I was beside the statue, amazed myself with the scenery bathing my eyes.
Pillars surrounding the garden. Well maintained. The grass was green. In the center was a cow surrounded by cattles. My eyes went wild. Looking for the big mammal. I gave up. This is a real museum. Hehehe.. no elephant. Hmm.. looking at the grass, what it's feel like stepping on it and strolled around. Since it looks so ancient, I brushed away the thought. I guees seeing too much movie with ancient scenes and bad omens do change my mind of this place. I walked behind the pillars to get to the other end. As the guy mentioned, there was an exhibition at the other end. Along the corridor behind the pillars, I can see alot of sculptures and relic. I guess some of the relics come from the temples, like those found at Borobudur and Prambanan (ancient temples). I like looking at corridor with alot of pillars. It does make a grand place. Next, will be the sculptures and relics. So no elephants I mean the real one.. hehehe..


Add:

From mulyana,

Museum Gajah - the informal name of the National Museum- got its name precisely because of that Elephant statue right in front of the building. The statue was given by the then King of Siam in 1920's if I'm not mistaken.

Oh and that huge statue is the statue of King Adityawarman, the ruler of Minangkabau in West Sumatra, portrayed as Bhairava, a wrathful representation of Shiva.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Museum Gajah - the informal name of the National Museum- got its name precisely because of that Elephant statue right in front of the building. The statue was given by the then King of Siam in 1920's if I'm not mistaken.

Anonymous said...

Oh and that huge statue is the statue of King Adityawarman, the ruler of Minangkabau in West Sumatra, portrayed as Bhairava, a wrathful representation of Shiva.

PhotoCrazy said...

Thanks. Publish it in the blog.

SooHK said...

Wow the skull rock looks a bit scary... looks like darth vader mask.... hahaha

PhotoCrazy said...

hahaha.. I was thinking what it looks like.. it is so familiar.. now i know.. hehehehe...