Indonesian political stickers from Easy Tiger, Asia #1 Stickers Museum

Oli at Hatch Kingdom told me that someone named Meiffi Oscar has opened a new sticker museum in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, called Easy Tiger, Asia #1 Stickers Museum.

I got in touch with Meiffi through Facebook, and we have traded some stickers and zines. When asked about Easy Tiger, Meiffi wrote:

“Well, actually the place is my dorm so it’s pretty small for a ‘museum.’ But I dare to claim it though. I got involved in this project when I had inspiration from visiting a unique museum in Amsterdam called Electric Ladyland Museum. After that I’m so eager to play a role as a museum director. And voila, I started the museum about a month later. In fact, the stickers passion is genetic in my blood since I was 15. I’m an old bike rider so we collect lots of motorcycle clubs stickers. And that push me to start to think about how to preserve this art so I can share it with others (like vintage stickers, limited stickers, etc.). I love museums and like being a museum guide, but I never thought about being the director. The way I saw the director of the museum in Amsterdam influenced me to build a small project but something fun and worthy to inspire people. I combine it with vintage stuff, music, and books, so it’ll entertain my friends who just want to chill out. We have a radio though. Haha. So yes, it’s worth having this project.”

For more information about Easy Tiger, go to Meiffi’s blog Stickers Culture, some of which is in Indonesian and some in English.

Yesterday, I received four new political stickers that Meiffi sent from Indonesia. I am going to share what he wrote in his letter to me to help explain the stickers.

“Here is my small package. It’s about the new President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who won the election on July 20^th [2014] and will lead us now till 2019.

There is a lot of unique facts about this person. He was an ex-governor of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. And the way he leads is unusual and eccentric. He loves to be in the front line when he visits his people. No wonder during the flood in Jakarta, he even took a boat and met refugees directly and straight. No such formal protocol. Once, he checked a sewer by himself. Yes, by himself. It’s not propaganda. But this is his habit for many, many years. Before, he was mayor of Solo (Surakarta). I’ve got a unique story about this. In Surakarta, there’s a public space [that] was occupied by the street sellers for many years. It was a problem for city planners. So this guy used a different approach. He used a smooth approach. By inviting them to have a dinner at his house and they discussed the problem together. But it’s not the end. He did this many times to persuade them to follow the government program about relocation. And guess what, those street sellers want to be relocated after all. And how many times did Jokowi invite them to his house? More than 40 times! I’m not joking, more than 40!

So what I’m trying to say is there’s a new hope in this guy. He tries to make a revolution about Indonesian mentality. About corruption, discipline, hard working, unique, and eccentric (he loves metal music). Perhaps you’re not surprised cause maybe you know lots of leaders like that, but for Indonesians, this is new! And this is a breakthrough.

These stickers [present] a unique concept about how Jokowi and his vice president are doing a blusukan (Javanese term for exploring deeply looking for something).

So no wonder the volunteer for the election made these stickers. Jokowi in here, Jokowi in there. With his white long sleeves and informal appearance.

And the design is so unique, using the style of the Hergé [cartoonist], Tintin! A [Belgian] journalist who traveled all around the world with lots of adventures. That’s Jokowi! A nation hero!

I think that’s enough for this letter. My apologies if my English isn’t so good or you may find incorrect grammar in it. I try my best. Once again, thank you for considering Indonesian political stickers. I’m glad to share it with you. Keep roaring! Roarrrrrr!”

Thank you, Meiffi, for these great stickers from Asia.  I’ll add them to the Street Art Graphics digital archive!