International Journal of Indonesian Studies Autumn 2015 Page1 International Journal of Indonesian Studies ISSN 2203-4692 Volume 1, Issue 2, Autumn 2015 Joko Widodo (acrylic on 50x70cm canvas, 2014). Dewi Candraningrum When I painted Joko Widodo The portrait I painted of Joko Widodo in August 2014 was to open the story of resistance toward a general involved in the 1998 student shootings. I painted two portraitures of Wiji Thukul the previous ŵoŶth. ϭϵϵϴs histoƌLJ aŶd the ŵassiǀe sedžual attaĐk oŶ IŶdoŶesiaŶ ChiŶese ǁoŵeŶ haǀe ďeeŶ denounced from official records and documents. History is written by the victors, and (her)story is written on muted walls. The politics of memory, Gesichtspolitik, has never occupied a central place in our self-understanding of national history. Poetry is a measure, an attempt, an attest, that goes beyond a genocide memorial—a national monument to victims of past conflict, mass-rape, land-grab and massive angst under the repressive Authoritarian New Order regime. Hopes for Joko Widodo are dim at present with the weakening-function of KPK under his patronage. Colors in the portrait are intended to exhibit a poetic voicelessness. Gesichtspolitik is meant to give voice to those who are being disremembered. Painting addresses the role of politics in shaping collective memory. They connect the construction of identity and monuments to justice (Surakarta, 24 February 2015).