Could these walls whisper tales of artistic brilliance? That is exactly what Gedung A2 does. This Jakarta Art Building holds a rich history. It has transformed over the centuries. Today we will explore its vibrant past.
Gedung A2 was historically known as Schouwburg Weltevreden. Gedung Kesenian Jakarta is its Indonesian name. It means Jakarta Art Building. The building stands proudly in Sawah Besar. This is in Central Jakarta.
The idea for this theater came from Herman Willem Daendels. He was the Governor-General of Batavia. Stamford Raffles brought the idea to life. Raffles loved local culture. In 1814 he ordered a simple bamboo theater. It was near Waterlooplein. Today it is Lapangan Banteng. The theater was named Military Theater Venue. English soldiers built it. It held 250 people. From 1811 to 1816 it entertained British soldiers.
In 1816 the English returned the Indies to the Dutch. Batavia was again under Dutch rule. On April 21 1817 Dutch amateur performers used the building again.
By 1820 the bamboo theater was decaying. In 1821 the Dutch colonial government supported a replacement. J.C. Schultze designed the new building. He also designed the Harmony Society building. Lie Atjie was the contractor. He used material from the old town spinning house. Construction took 14 months. The new building had a Neoclassical style. It was called Schouwburg Weltevreden. It was also known as Gedung Komedi. This means Comedy building. Inauguration was delayed until December 7 due to cholera. The first performance was Shakespeare’s Othello.
The Gedung A2 struggled in the mid 19th century. Batavia lacked European opera singers. It did not have a complete orchestra. The government took over in 1848. They held it until 1892. In 1911 the city of Batavia took over administration.
Candles and kerosene lamps first lit Gedung A2. Gaslight arrived in 1864. Electricity arrived in 1882. Gaslight remained outside until 1910.
In 1926 during Indonesia’s National Awakening local youth used it. They held the first Kongres Pemoeda. This means Youth Congress.
During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945 Gedung A2 became a military headquarters. In April 1943 it became a theater. It was named Sin’tsu Cekizyoo.
After independence the building became a meeting place. A group of young artists known as Seniman Merdeka gathered here. Rosihan Anwar Usmar Ismail El Hakim and HB Jassin were among them. On August 29 1945 President Sukarno inaugurated the Central Indonesian National Committee here. This was twelve days after independence.
In 1951 the Faculty of Economy and Law of Indonesia University used the building. From 1957 to 1961 the Indonesian National Theater Academy used it.
In 1968 Gedung A2 was renamed Bioskop Diana. This means Diana Theater. A year later an institution was established for the building. Brigadier General Pimgadie led it. In 1970 the institution turned it into a cinema. It showed Chinese movies. It was known as the City Theater.
A law enacted in 1984 returned the building to its original function. It was renovated for 3 billion rupiah. On September 5 1987 it was renamed Gedung Kesenian Jakarta. It replaced the name Gedung Kesenian Pasar Baru.
Gedung A2 features two open halls. One is on each side. The main concert room measures 24 by 17.5 meters. It has a balcony. It holds 475 people. The stage measures 10.75 by 14 by 17 meters. There is a loge. It is an empty space for five seats if needed. Gedung Kesenian Jakarta stands as a testament to Jakarta’s vibrant cultural history. Its walls have seen performances meetings and transformations. It remains a beacon for the arts.