The heritage of the people : cultural mapping of an art community on Braga Street, Bandung city, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Braga Street is a culturally significant place in Bandung City, West Java, Indonesia. Dubbed the ‘Parijs van Java’, Braga Street enjoyed a reputation for exclusivity, luxury, and prestige in the 1920’s. Traders such as Fuchs en Rens Dutch transportation suppliers including the Mercedes brand of cars, packed the shop fronts of Braga Street, attracting a vibrant streetscape unparalleled in all of Indie (i.e. Indonesia).

Dominated by the art deco style architecture prevalent around the 1920s, a primary defining characteristic of present day Braga Street are the painting vendors along the five foot way of Braga Street. These street art vendors play a central role in the evolution of, and in defining the cultural significance of Braga Street. Hence their popularity as a tourist attraction. These factors mentioned above have conversely become the dilemma in the development plan for Braga Street.

The middle section of Braga Street was chosen as it represents the vibrant atmosphere of Braga Street, making it a ‘Point of Interest’ and tourist stop along the Bandung Heritage Trail. The middle section of Braga Street is also always referenced as a shopping node for paintings in travel media.

This paper will cover the cultural mapping of painting sellers, defined as both artists (producing manufacture and retail) and vendors (retail only). Investigation into other stakeholders is beyond the scope of this dissertation; however the successful conclusion of this scope of work will provide the structure and case study for further in-depth cultural mapping of Braga Street as a whole in future research.