The Art of Critique: A Different Way to Speak Up
Since I was a child, my surroundings taught me to accept critiques from others. At the same time, I learned to filter them — taking in what benefits me while discarding the input that is hurtful and lacks value. Ultimately, it’s all about how we choose to respond. One thing to note: sometimes, valuable critiques come in a harsh package, while unhelpful ones can be delivered with kindness. It takes wisdom to distinguish between them and practice certainly helps.
So far, I’ve managed to handle critiques well — though sometimes, it’s tough, and I ‘fail’ to do things flawlessly. However, what I try to avoid is criticizing others. I always look for alternative ways to address negativity, carefully packaging my words so they don’t hurt others. It seems to work — no one has ever complained about the way I ‘critique’. Or perhaps, it’s more accurate to call them ‘advice’. At least, I haven’t seen any negative reactions — no signs of discomfort.
Then, I started feeling the urge to engage in government criticism. But since I’m not an expert in politics, governance, or related fields, I naturally had some fear. So, I sought a way to express my dissatisfaction more subtly.
After days of searching, I remembered a masterpiece that amazed me months ago — caricatures and other political illustrations published in Kompas magazine. The way they symbolize harsh realities with clever visual storytelling is brilliant! I wanted to adopt that kind of skill — but how?
So, I decided to give it a try. As you know, in Indonesia, the presidential election passed not long ago — less than 100 days since the inauguration — yet so much chaos is unfolding. Especially on social media, where netizens express their frustration through various protest hashtags, hoping their voices will reach the government.
This unrest is fueled by questionable policies, misplaced priorities, and campaign promises that have been blatantly broken. The situation is so chaotic that a trending hashtag emerged: #KaburAjaDulu (#GetOutFast). Some tweets even express exhaustion over being an Indonesian citizen, lamenting their fate of being born in this country.
Because of this, I posted a piece on my other Medium account titled “Sandiwara Negeri Dongeng” (“The Fairy Tale Charade”). It’s a poem expressing my critique of the government — its policies, its deep-rooted issues that never seem to be resolved.
To complement my words, I also created an illustration myself. I spent around four hours on it. I know it’s not the best critique art out there, but still, it’s my first attempt. I genuinely enjoyed the brainstorming process, as well as bringing the idea to life using MediBang Paint — sketching, coloring, and rendering. It was a wonderful journey!
In the future, I might continue using this method to critique something — or someone — through art and poetry. Hopefully, this won’t be my last attempt. I can’t wait for my brain’s next impulsive creation, hahaha.
