7 September 2016

From 7-27 September 2016, come and experience the “FREEDOME” Indonesian Pavilion, which takes its cue from the historical Asian-African Conference that took place in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955.

4 September 2016

Mr. Ali Robin & Mr. Adi Saputra are preparing the main installation for Freedome at Somerset House, London.

20 April 1965

These powerful and immortal words from Dr. Sanjit Rajagupta, the chief coordinator of the Berdikari satellite launch, encapsulates the entire philosophy of Berdikari as well as the Freedome space programme.

Conceived as a reaction to the heated Space Race that has divided the globe into two quarrelling factions, the space programme in general and the satellite in particular was designed to give a voice to the silent majority: the newly independent states of Africa and Asia who took no interest in choosing sides. These nations, unburdened by an ingrained superiority complex that has to consume both blocs of the cold war, aim to prove that the rest of the world is just as ready to embrace the future.

18 April 1965

Freedom opens the gates.

Communication brings it all home.

The Berdikari satellite is about communication. In a postcolonial world during the height of the Cold War, the launch of Berdikari represents the aspirations of Asian and African nations to better facilitate communication between its member states.
Yet it’s also piece of groundbreaking technology that radiates symbolism. The light yet durable materials reflects the endurance and independent spirit of its members states. Its transparent body represents hope. The satellite’s light rotation pattern and solid foundation reflects the variety of ideologies of Asian and African nations, all stitched together through its 10 panel shape that symbolises the Dasasila Bandung, the single source of utopian inspiration for Berdikari.

The artificial satellite launched by the members of the Asia-Africa Conference was christened Berdikari, an abbreviation of Berdiri Dengan Kaki Sendiri (standing on one’s own two feet), an Indonesian acronym that symbolised the independent spirit and autonomous goals of its members. Berdikari was materialised after a long and protracted process of trial and error and was finally launched to improve communication amongst countries in the developing world as well as to stand on equal footing with the Eastern and Western Blocs of the Cold War.

24 April 1955

1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the charter of the United Nations
2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations
3. Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations large and small
4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country
5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in conformity with the charter of the United Nations
6. (a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defence to serve any particular interests of the big powers
   (b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressures on other countries
7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country
8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties own choice, inonformity with the charter of the United Nations
9. Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation
10. Respect for justice and international obligations

24 April 1955

• 01. Ali Sastroamidjojo, Indonesia
• 02. Muhammad Ali, Pakistan
• 03. U Nu, Burma
• 04. Sir John Kotelawala, Ceylon
• 05. Jawaharlal Nehru, India
• 06. Sardar Mohammed Naim Khan, Afghanistan
• 07. Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia
• 08. Chou En Lai, China
• 09. Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt
• 10. Tatsunosuke Takasaki, Japan
• 11. Sayyed Wahid Saleh, Jordan
• 12. Katay D. Sasoriti, Laos
• 13. Sami Solh, Lebanon
• 14. Carlos P. Romulo, Philippines
• 15. Nguyen Qan Thoai, South Vietnam
• 16. Sayed Ismael El-azhari, Sudan
• 17. Khaled El-kazem, Syria
• 18. Yilma Deressa, Ethiopia
• 19. Koyo Botsio, Gold Coast
• 20. Djalal Abdoh, Iran
• 21. Mohammad Fadhel Jamali, Iraq
• 22. Momolu Dukuly, Liberia
• 23. Mahmud Bey Muntasser, Libya
• 24. Sovag Jung Thapa, Nepal
• 25. Pham Van Dong, North Vietnam
• 26. Wan Waithayakon, Thailand
• 27. Fatih Rustu Zorlu, Turkey
• 28. Amir Faisal, United Arab Emirates
• 29. Emir Seif-el Islam Al-hassan, Yemen

28 April 1954

A vital precursor to the Bandung Conference of 1955, the Panca Lima alludes to the five Prime Ministers of Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India who went on to form the backbone of both the Asian African Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement of 1961.

The Panca Lima met in Sri Lanka at the Colombo Conference in 1954, during which Indonesia’s Ali Sastroamidjojo, under explicit instructions from the country’s President and overall man of mystery, Sukarno, set out to unify the countries of Africa and Asia to combat and eradicate imperialism, colonialism and neocolonialism in order to provide a genuine counterbalance to the growing tensions between the Western and Eastern blocks of the Cold War.

• 01. Ali Sastroamidjojo, Indonesia
• 02. Muhammad Ali, Pakistan
• 03. U Nu, Burma
• 04. Sir John Kotelawala, Ceylon
• 05 Jawaharlal Nehru, India

16 August 1953

Bergerak Serentak Bangkit Sambut Bersama
Asia Afrika T’lah Bersatu
Berkibarlah Panji Kita
Ditabur M’lati Ibu Pertiwi

Dari Gurun Gobi, Gangga, Irawadi, Sahara
Merdeka! Hurias! Berdamai! Dzinzabat!
Sambut Salam Hopin Wansui
Sambut Nyanyi Gembira
Hai, Merdeka!

Reff. 1
Alam Bahagia Kini T’lah Tiba
Bersatu Berjuang Afro Asia
Kabut Perang Lemah Kini Sudah
Matahari Bercahya Gemilang
Bawa Cita Damai Sentosa

Reff. 2
Alam Bahagia Kini T’lah Tiba
Bersatu Berjuang Afro Asia
Kabut Perang Lemah Kini Sudah
Matahari Bercahya Gemilang
Bawa Cita Damai Merdeka!