A total of 126 photographs taken by members of the Indonesian Photojournalist Association (PFI) Yogyakarta are on display in a photojournalism exhibition titled Sing Penting Madhang.
The exhibition was officially opened on the evening of Thursday, 1 May 2025, at the Art Gallery of the Universitas Gadjah Mada Innovation and Creativity Center (GIK UGM), and will run until 8 May 2025.
The theme Sing Penting Madhang, which translates to “what matters is eating,” may sound simple, but it carries a deeper meaning.
According to Andreas Fitri Atmoko, Chair of PFI Yogyakarta, this Javanese phrase reflects a fundamental aspect of life, the need to survive and keep moving forward despite less-than-ideal conditions.
Through this theme, Atmoko explained that PFI Yogyakarta hopes to invite visitors to reflect on the struggles of everyday people and the broader social realities of how individuals strive to survive in their own ways.
“These photographs don’t just depict eating in the literal sense, but also illustrate economic, political, and cultural struggles, as well as the challenges of our times,” said Atmoko in his opening remarks.
Atmoko also emphasized the crucial role of photojournalists in capturing important events and delivering truthful visual information guided by journalistic ethics.
He referred to photojournalists as the “eyes of the public” responsible for conveying facts through integrity-filled photographs.
He added that this annual exhibition serves as a space for the public to enjoy and reflect on the dynamics of life captured through the lens.
Dwi Oblo Prasetyo, Chair of the Exhibition Committee, shared that the exhibition venue holds personal meaning for him.
He spent much of his time as a student at the UGM Student Center, now GIK UGM.
“This used to be my home, the Student Center. After some years, the idea of holding an exhibition here came up, and I feel incredibly proud,” he said.
The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, also appreciated the Sing Penting Madhang exhibition.
In a speech by the Head of the Yogyakarta Office of Communication and Informatics, Hari Edi Tri Wahyu Nugroho, the governor conveyed that for Javanese people, eating is not merely a physical necessity but a philosophy of holistic living.
“For Javanese society, madhang is not just about filling the stomach, but a philosophy of a complete life,” said Nugroho on behalf of the governor.
Furthermore, photography is seen as a visual medium and a universal language that transcends cultural and ideological boundaries.
Nugroho also described photography as visual literature with unique expressive power.
“In today’s context, photography can serve as visual literature that speaks truth and cuts through the noise of falsehoods in our post-truth era,” he added.
To enrich the experience, PFI Yogyakarta also hosted a series of side events during the exhibition.
The program began with a Public Lecture on Photojournalism on 2 May 2025 at UGM Shop, featuring Oscar Motuloh, Dwi Oblo, and Pamungkas WS as speakers.
This was followed by a Photo Story Journalism Workshop on 3 May 2025 at the Art Gallery, led by Ulet Ifansasti, with Wawan H. Prabowo, Oka Hamied, and Desi Suryanto as mentors.
The final event in the series is a screening and discussion of the documentary film Before You Eat, scheduled for 6 May 2025 at GIK UGM.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographs: PFI Yogyakarta