Fine Art in The Heart of Jakarta

Fine art in Indonesia is still steamily squirming, reaching for climax. Even after, it has more energy left
for afterplay. This is the 6th annual event of Bazaar Art Jakarta, held in The Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place. This
has established Indonesia as one of the host of international standard fine art festival.

More than 34 galleries from various country including performing artist from Indonesia is exhibiting
their work. Among others are ARK Gallery, Asosiasi Galeri Seni Rupa Indonesia, ROH Project, Ode To Art
from Singapore and The Drawing Room from Phillipines display their artwork and getting appreciation
from art observer and art watcher. With this kind of festival, Indonesia is getting recognition as a
country which has artists and creative industry that are competent in international standard. Besides
that, this will encourage society to appreciate art in a broader point of view.

This festival is a perfect arena for Indonesian artists to accentuate local taste responding actual
condition and phenomenas. Some of the installation are eye catching because it displays aspects that
are close to our everyday life. One of the installation that convey this element is from Angki
Purbandono, one of the artist from ROH Project.

Representing displays on the fast food restaurant, the objects are vehicle toys that are in a critical
condition. A helicopter is entangled with noodles and rice noodles, while a VW Beetle crashed with
tempe. This installation seems to remind us, even though advanced countries manufactures modern and
sophisticated things for our lifestyle, we still have enjoyable and chummy local culinary.

Actual Visual Experience

ARNDT Gallery from Germany features work of Indonesian visual artist Eko Nugroho from Yogyakarta.
Named “Tropical Body, Desert Head” this installation projecting sarcastic point of view. This pair of
human legs have the body fully covered with flowers, fruits and even coral reef, but the head is a field of
desert with three peeking eyes.

The fertile body is buried under the desert sand. This installation is in the form of embroidery on a large
piece of hanging cloth. Mocking a country that has abundant resources but the contents of the head is
barren and arid.

The adversity of theme that appear in this exhibition makes every side of Bazaar Art Jakarta this year has
their unique taste of their own. Director of Exhibition, Leo Silitonga, disenthrall every gallery invited
from specific theme. The result is, every exhibition visitor will find great varieties of aesthetic experience
from one installation to another, ranging from various country and artistry background. While in fact,
not only experience, but also pleasure for the soul.

The pleasure differs from mischievous drawing in the medium of disused envelopes by EddiE haRA, to
the beauty of kintsugi, the art of reshaping broken pottery and earthenware using liquid melted gold.

Art exhibitions nowadays are one of human needs, living in the middle of the city. In someway, just like
lovemaking, spending some time to appreciate the works of the artists gives a feeling of deep pleasure
that gives satisfaction. This form of appreciation, in the same time, gives us time to reflects and think
about what is happening around us, despite the fact that we live in a very pacey environment.