Chapter 6 - A Short History of IPPHOS (Indonesian Press Photographic Services)

Summary

With Frans Mendur in Yogyakarta, every day they proved their loyalty to the Republic with their reports from the front lines for Indonesian independence. While in Jakarta they demonstrated… personal skills that allowed them to infiltrate the enemy. As an independent news agency, Alex was able to record and broadcast the results of important political negotiations, such as Linggadjati, Kaliurang, and Renville, access to which was denied to government mouthpieces such as Antara and BFI (Berita Film Indonesia—Film News of Indonesia). ▶ 6.1

What emerges is a loving gaze, as one human being should love another. Look at the photographs… and discover how the gaze repeats from one picture to another—the revolutionary idea of IPPHOS was not just their choice to fight for the Republic, but with the way they show life with their eyes and their hearts wide open.

YUDHI SOERJOATMODJO,“IPPHOS REMASTERED: DENGAN DUA MATA TERBUKA”; IPPHOS REMASTERED: WITH TWO EYES OPEN” (TRANSLATION BY BRIAN C. ARNOLD)

In his excellent essay “IPPHOS Remastered: Dengan Dua Mata Terbuka (IPPHOS Remastered: With Two Eyes Open),” historian and curator Yudhi Soerjoatmodjo describes the first photographs made when Sukarno walked up the steps of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta and declared Indonesia free from the Dutch. The scene he describes is full of excitement and electricity as photographers from around Java and even around the world (Henri Cartier-Bresson was there that day) jockeyed for position to make photographs of the new president of the newly independent nation. Among those jostling for position to make the right photograph of such a profound moment was Alex Mendur, one of the founding members of IPPHOS, the Indonesian Press Photographic Service. ▶6.2 ▶6.3

Four years ahead of time, in 1945, Soerjoatmodjo reminds us that Alex and his brother Frans (also a founding member of IPPHOS) stood on stage with Sukarno on August 17^th when he read the proclamation declaring Indonesian independence. At the time Alex Mendur worked for Dōmei Tsushin, a Japanese run newspaper. Alex heard that a ceremony was scheduled in which some of the political leaders of the Indonesian revolution were gathering to proclaim independence.