Art Makes The Leap From The Studio To The Mall At Bazaar Event

Jakarta - Made of 500 broken woks floating in midair in the atrium of Pacific Place in South Jakarta, an installation by Jakarta artist Teguh Ostenrik has been making a big statement.

The spectacular piece, which is more than 50 meters tall, also serves to direct shoppers` attention to the 50 other artworks being exhibited around the cavernous mall in the run-up to Bazaar Art Jakarta, an art fair that runs from Aug. 27-30.

The exhibition, which has been on display since Aug. 1, features many famous names in the art world, including Putu Sutawijaya, Iriantine Karnaya, Nus Salomo, Hanafi, Yani Maryani, RadiArwinda, Ali Rubin, Anusapati, S Teddy D and Bunga Jeruk.

“An art fair in Indonesia is long overdue,” Nus said. “Galleries in Indonesia always go to Hong Kong or Beijing to display Indonesian artists` work. But Bazaar and their group are doing something really good here, and it`s what Indonesian artists have been waiting and looking for: international and local exposure.”

One of Salomo`s pieces, “Moto Beauty,” can be viewed in front of the mall`s ballroom.

Iron sculptures by Agapetus A Kristiandana are among the works that have been stopping shoppers in their tracks. Sitting subtly in a corner of the mall is a sculpture of a pint-sized man pushing a wheel twice his size.

Another work by Kristiandana comprises a “b-boy” with a hip-hop aesthetic placed at the end of the third floor escalator, smiling at passersby.

On the ground floor is an exhibition of striking portraits by photographer Indra Leonardi, titled “AristOcrat.”

A portrait of artist Ugo Untoro shows him reclining among horse carcasses, while one of fellow artist Heri Dono has him flashing a peace sign, while the heads of George Bush and Adolf Hitler sit atop the bodies of big yellow dinosaurs beside him.

On the fifth floor of the mall, stands will be set up offering educational children`s activities, with a Rp 50,000 entrance fee inclusive of materials. “Kids can learn how to paint batik and design wayang [shadow] puppets,” said Dedy Koswara, Bazaar`s marketing and communications manager.

There will also be seminars, not only aimed at the large existing art society in Indonesia, but also to expose the artists` work to new collectors, foreigners and other interested people. Paintings will also be displayed in the ballroom, including Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet`s “Balinese Dancer” (1974) and “Jalan Thamrin at Night” by Affandi, which was loaned to the art fair by Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Dedy said it was exciting for the artists involved to reach out to new audiences who had never heard of them.

“People of all ages who don`t know about the art of Indonesia can see it while they are shopping,” he said.

Edwin Rahardjo, a prominent Jakarta gallery owner, said he hoped the fair would become an annual event.

“We are all very excited about kicking off Art Jakarta,” he said. Nicole Lee

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.com

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