Porn in Art or Art in Porn

Understanding the meaning of art is not effortless, art is built with a sense of
the artist, and it has certain intention and emotion inside it. There are several artists
which adopts nature as their inspiration, inventing an art that is portrayed a life of
the nature itself. For instance: in 1950s, Trubus formed a naked woman statue that
is squatting, named Denok. Denok was built from five models, Ara 1 as its face, and
the rest of the parts was inspired from other four models; and one of them is Ernest
Dezentje2 as its body. Placed in Bogor palace, Denok is one of citizens reasons to
visit over there. Whereas in early years, Denok becomes a public issue; as FPI, Front
Pembela Islam, protests Denok for its shape that depicts an underdressed woman,
categorized as a pornography; they give a suggestion to dress Denok. However, this
is not a simple case to judge Denok is as an art or porn, since public has its own
perspective. Yet do you agree to place a naked woman sculpture in the front of your
palace?
As a naked statue, Denok is an artwork, and artwork contextualizes and reflects
ideas and actions which cannot be done in real life (Malik, 2008). Although this
statement can be a true statement, however I think that statement is not
acceptable for Indonesian. Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country of the world,
where 87.2% of the population identifies as Muslim (Desilver, 2013). In Islams
gospel, there is principle about dress code, say to the believing women that they
should lower their gaze and protect their private parts (from sins); and they should
not display their beauty and ornaments except what appear thereof (Quran,
1 Ara is daughter of an employee in Bogor palace.
2 Ernest Dezentje is daughter of the Dutch painter.

24:31). Evidently, Denok conflicts with the Islam dress code, as Denok exhibit most
part of woman body in its form.
Artwork and pornography have been debated in recently years, it is one of the
best controversials. An artwork is different with pornography, art has specific
purpose; Denok was created as Sukarno 3s ravishment in respect to women
(Ekodhanto , 2013); therefore Denok is acceptable to be categorized as an art.
Nevertheless, I hold that it is a pornography either. Pornography has the purpose of
sexual arousal (Uidhir, 2009), and Denok has it. Although that porn is relative, it will
be a wretched thing to place a naked woman statue in public place. Every one can
see Denok, not exception with children. But many parents that show off in front of
their children, and what is problem of it?. Clearly, they are different, when parents
are naked in front of their children, the parents are prepared to explain about what
they do, and explain what their children see. The problem is when children see a
naked statue and need an explanation, but their parents are not able to expound it.
Regarding to researchs that had been conducted about the impact of pornoghraphy
to children. Exposure in pornography will vary their prespective in sexual activity to
exaggeration;as a result they will have neither sexual pleasure or affection towards
their partner in their sex activity (Zillman, 2000).
For those reason, I suggest that Denok has to be redisigned. Dressing Denok
with a wardrobe will be a convenient solution, yet I suppose if putting plants that
disguise the woman body will be better. As it will be unnatural to dress Denok. Since
the Denok was inspired by the nature, hence convering it with the nature itself is a
virtue remedy.

3 Sukarno is the first president of Indonesia

Works Cited
Desilver, D. (2013, June 7). Worlds Muslim population more widespread than you
might think. Retrieved August 12, 2013, from PewResearchCenter:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/07/worlds-muslim-populationmore-widespread-than-you-might-think/
Ekodhanto , F. (2013, August 4). Menengok "Si Denok" di Istana Bogor. Retrieved
August 12, 2013, from Koran Jakarta: http://m.koran-jakarta.com/?
id=125620&mode_beritadetail=1
Malik, K. (2008, September 29). Self-censor and be damned! The Times.
Quran. (n.d.).
Uidhir, C. M. (2009, April 1). Why Pornography Can't Be Art. Philosophy and
Literature, pp. 193-203.
Zillman, D. (2000). Influence of unrestrained access to erotica on adolescents and
young adults dispositions toward sexuality. Journal of Adolescent , 41-44.