The Metaphor Meaning of the Garuda Figures in the Mural Painting of the Social-Political Campaign in Election 2019

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of several metaphorical styles of animal figures in mural paintings on the walls of the Kridosono soccer stadium in Yogyakarta. The mural painting festival held by the General Election Commission (KPU) of Yogyakarta in February 2019 showed several forms of Garuda metaphors. The emergence of these social expressions is related to the human subconscious and this is analyzed using the theory of psychoanalysis which confirms that psychological situation under human unconsciousness is clearly illustrated through individual activities and emotional nuances to create art. This study used a qualitative approach to examine the phenomenon behind these mural paintings and also applied Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory to determine the psychoanalytic background of the figures’ metaphorical appearance. Results indicated there was a belief among artists to create a more conducive atmosphere for democracy in 2019 and the mural painting was used as a representation of the ego to invite the public to vote in the election. Moreover, another mural painting also revealed the history of the parliament antagonist character and power abuse, thus representing pessimism and communal distrust of social institutions as a form of violation of the superego. These metaphors provide meaning through support of visual elements in the surrounding environment. Study concluded that the Garuda bird figure was believed by the millennial generation to be a nationalist ideology representing the subconscious character in addressing and criticizing the behavior of politicians in Indonesia, while the rat metaphor was interpreted as the violations of democratic social and political institutions.