KAJIAN ARTISTIK LIDAH API KEMERDEKAAN DI TUGU NASIONAL ATAU MONUMEN NASIONAL

Abstract

Lidah Api Kemerdekaan (The Flame of Independence) as a dynamic symbol of ‘fire’ is the expression of the Greatness of Indonesian Nation, and was the idea of President Soekarno, who wanted it to be the ‘crown’ of Tugu Nasional/Monumen Nasional (National Monument) or Monas. It is not solely meant as an aesthetical symbol to make the monument attractive from every view, but also functions as the cover of the lift room on top of the monument. Its position, which is 115 above the ground, has caused some difficulties in the drawings and restoration efforts. Grounded Theory research through the point of view of Phenomenology on top of the National Monument has revealed degradation/damage on the gold-leaf layer on the surface of the Flame of Independence. Hence thoughts/discussions to find conservation strategies in the future are essentially needed for the preservation of the Flame of Independence. There is also difficulty to document the artifact because the location of the flame makes it impossible to be viewed frontally. Fortunately among the personal documents of the late architect, Soedarsono, we found a number of architectural drawings of the Flame of Independence that can be used as our guidance to redraw the Flame of Independence as the basis of further conservation

Lidah Api Kemerdekaan sebagai simbol dinamis ’api’ adalah ekspresi Kebesaran Bangsa Indonesia gagasan Presiden Soekarno menjadi mahkota Tugu Nasional atau Monumen Nasional. Kehadirannya bukan saja sebagai simbol estetis semata, agar tampak indah dari semua sudut pandang, tetapi juga berperan sebagai pelindung ruang lift di Puncak Tugu. Kedudukannya di atas ketinggian 115 m dari permukaan tanah menyebabkan kesulitan dalam cara penggambaran serta pemugaran. Berdasar penelitian, diketahui kondisi Api Kemerdekaan yang telah mengalami degradasi/kerusakan pada lapisan goldleaf di permukaan dasar Lidah Api. Dengan demikian diperlukan pemikiran-pemikiran ke depan untuk menemukan strategi konservasi bagi kelestarian Lidah Api Kemerdekaan tersebut. Selain itu ditemukan kesulitan cara pendokumentasian artefak karena lokasi tapak berdirinya Lidah Api tidak memungkinkan Lidah Api disaksikan secara frontal. Di dalam dokumen pribadi Arsitek Soedarsono (alm.) ditemukan sejumlah gambar arsitektur LidahApi Kemerdekaan sebagai pemandu penggambaran ulang Lidah Api Kemerdekaan untuk menjadi basis konservasi lanjut.