The depiction of the relationship between Chairil and Jassin largely underpinned the exhibition themed “Gunung Api Jassin, Lahar Api Chairil.” Here, visitors will see Chairil from the perspective of Jassin’s archives, finding a common link in Jassin’s efforts to prove his argument about Chairil whom he called a revolutionary poet through a series of writings, photos, letters, magazine articles that are almost a hundred years old.
This is “treasure trove” that Hasan wanted the visitors to appreciate. In addition to celebrating the Literature and Literacy Month, the exhibition which will take place from July 11-August 11 is also held to commemorate Chairil Anwar’s
centennial which falls on July 26.
“We conclude that Chairil is like hot lava, and HB Jassin is an active volcano. Documentation is like magma that is still bubbling, not an extinct volcano,” Hasan said.
Through the exhibition, visitors will feel, in Hasan’s words, a “burst of magma.” Jassin with his perseverance in archiving and Chairil with his totality in producing his works will make visitors understand why they are considered towering figures in Indonesia’s literary history.
Preserving old manuscript with encapsulation
To preserve the authenticity of the manuscript, PDS HB Jassin uses various ways, starting from carefully placing and separating each archive, to restoring manuscripts that are considered old, weathered and torn in several parts.
One of the restoration steps carried out by PDS HB Jassin is encapsulation. This process is carried out to maintain the physical properties of the manuscript by coating it with a material to make it thicker.