Cosmic Mantra

Solo exhibition of albert yonathan setyawan
11 - 25 February 2010
at SIGIarts Gallery
Jl. Mahakam I No. 11 Jakarta 12130
T. 62.21 7260949 | 62.21 7261185
www.sigiarts.com
Open hours: Tue - Sun 12AM - 08PM | Public holiday by appointment
Curated by: Asmudjo J. Irianto

Halimun | The Mist

A reflection upon the development of Indonesian contemporary art
Inaugural Exhibition for Lawang Wangi Art & Science Estate

Jl. Dago Giri No.99, Warung Caringin- Mekarwangi, Bandung
Curated by Rifky Effendy
22 January - 22 February 2010
www.artsociates.com

The din of contemporary visual arts capital and social for the last three years had created a truly dynamic facade of Indonesian visual arts, and at the same time a new experience in the history of its development. For the first time there's a collaboration from the various element of the art world in producing Indonesian visual art identity, increasing the passions and dynamicity. The current gravity field of the Indonesian visual arts had directly and indirectly creating the climate and direction of progress which affecting the art practices.

One of the obvious symptoms is the emergence of mannerism, or an artistic form and style considered to be established, within the artist community, caused by the strong current of the market. This condition is creating a layer of obscuring signals, misleading and disturbing our observation on the artworks quality; to its totality of meanings, artistic exploration and philosophical discourses. This condition is like a mist covering a land - or in Sundanese language: Halimun - wrapping, covering and obscuring the view, yet we can still see something in a limited vision distance depending on the thickness of the mist layers. The mist had become a metaphor to explain the symptom of the current Indonesian visual art social-capital field.

A group of artists' artworks with the new realism and photo-realism character suddenly received a special space in the later development. Artists group like TAXU-Denpasar and Abstraks-Bandung, which departed from the spirit and awareness of distinction from the dominant practice. Also the developments of object based artworks, ceramic medium and new media, which are the tendency of the contemporary visual arts practice.

The Halimun exhibition is held to review the development of visual arts within the whirl of value layers, from the artworks of fifty Indonesian visual artists, both seniors and juniors; the development of the individuals and also artists groups. There are several layers of big groupings in this inauguration exhibition of Lawang Wangi. The first are artworks specially commissioned by Andonowati, the owner of Lawang Wangi, which consisted of artworks from visual artists such as Mella Jaarsma, Teguh Ostenrik, and also site specific artworks responding to the space and architecture of the gallery.




"I will not make anymore boring art" - practising John Baldessari's work
site specific work and interactive performance, written texts on wall, 2010

Jakarta Contemporary Ceramic Biennale # 1

Ceramic Art: In Between
19 December 2009 - 20 January 2010
North Art Space, Pasar Seni Ancol, Jakarta
Curated by: Asmudjo J. Irianto and Rifky Effendi

There is dynamic development of contemporary art in South-east Asia countries for the past decade, and it opens artistic spectrum widely for medium exploration. The boundaries of fine art categorizations are no longer distinct, thus, it gives place to the forms of fine art outside paintings and sculpting, and even blurring the lines between art and craft in the context of Western fine art. The form of art with ceramic as the medium is the one that appeals to art society with the emerging contemporary artists bringing their works and their concepts. Their works could not even be distinguished in the arena of contemporary art in the present.

Jakarta Contemporary Ceramic Biennale #1 held in North Art Space (NAS), Pasar Seni Ancol, is an attempt to map the practice of contemporary art, not only in Indonesia but also in South-east Asia countries and worldwide. In its first event—the initiation—there are prominent figures in art world, teaming up as a curator team that would do the selection namely Asmujo J. Irianto and Rifky Effendy. They both sort out the talented ceramic artists. From Indonesia, the artists who participate in the event are F. Widayanto, Nurdian Ichsan, Nia Gautama, Lie Fhung, Albert Yonathan, and many more; Mirjam Veldhuis from the Netherlands and Jason Lim from Singapore; also the ones from Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines. The artworks are showing various techniques and artistic values, based on pottery, sculpture, and concepts, including artists with the background of sculpting such as Wiyoga Muhardanto and Handiwirman Saputra.

Adding public appreciation towards the art of ceramic, there will be sessions of lecture about the development of art and the practice of ceramic and workshop of Japanese Raku technique; also the one open for public is shaping ceramic on potter’s wheel. It is a high hope that this contemporary ceramic biennale, organized by NAS, bring the development of both national’ and international’s ceramic practice.

tranquility
glazed white stoneware with decals, variable dimension, 2009


horizon
glazed colored clay [ stoneware] with decals, variable dimension, 2009



for more information please visit
http://jakartacontemporaryceramic.wordpress.com/