Capturing the Spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference
Paul Tedjasurja, born on 19 August 1930 in Surabaya, was a dedicated photographer whose contribution to recording one of the most monumental events in Asian and African history, the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955, is unequalled.
He began his photography career in Bandung in 1949, two years after moving, working as a freelance photojournalist for “Gembira” magazine and the “Preanger Foto” agency. His extraordinary artistic abilities were recognised, resulting in contributions to Pikiran Rakjat in 1953.
The Bandung Conference, also known as the Asia-Africa Conference, took place from April 18 to 24, 1955, in Bandung, Indonesia, and was the first international gathering of newly independent Asian and African states. Its goals were to promote international peace and cooperation while condemning colonialism and neocolonialism, providing the groundwork for the Non-Alignment Movement.
Tedjasurja, a 25-year-old freelance photographer, captured around 300 photographs of this historic occasion. He immortalised various moments with his Leica III F camera, a gift from his prospective father-in-law, supplemented by an 8-kilogram flash, additional lighting apparatus, and numerous rolls of black and white film, including the arrival of foreign delegates at Husein Sastranegara Airport, conference proceedings at Merdeka Building, banquets, and the exuberance of bystanders.
Unfortunately, not all of Tedjasurja’s photographic collection survived. A government official borrowed photographs and negatives from the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference but neglected to return them, so their whereabouts are unknown to this day.
Despite this setback, Tedjasurja’s collaborators digitally conserved 63 of his images for the 50th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference in April of 2005. These photographs were later included in the book “Bandung 1955: Moments of the Asian African Conference,” which commemorated the conference’s 60th anniversary in April 2015.
Unfortunately, Paul Tedjasurja died on March 27, 2020. His essential contributions to recording the Asia-Africa Conference demonstrate his photographic expertise and passion. His legacy continues to illuminate this momentous event, allowing future generations to better comprehend and appreciate this critical chapter in Asian and African history.
