Contemporary Art/Design in Indonesia

[serious_fun]

I'm still trying to tap into contemporary art here in Indo... not much where I live unfortunately despite there being loads of students everywhere. Cultural differences. (I'm not in Jakarta/Bandung, Yogya, or Bali...is there contemporary art outside of those places?? )

Here are a few websites dedicated to contemporary Indonesian art/design/content creation:

The Finery Report

Indonesia Design

Indonesian Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD)

Indonesian Visual Art Archive

Art Jakarta

Please suggest other resources if you can.

makasih

 

[serious_fun]

Museum MACAN

Nyoman Masriadi

The Yogyakarta Indonesian Arts Institute

 

[serious_fun]

 

[serious_fun]

ArtJog

ROH Gallery

 

[pantaiema]

Recent reports detail another vandalism attack by protesters targeting the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris. This time, these protesters threw soup at the artwork. Watch the moment where these female protesters threw soup at this famous artwork.

Mona Lisa: Protesters throw soup at da Vinci painting

The 16th Century painting by Leonardo da Vinci sits behind protective glass at the Louvre in Paris.

www.bbc.co.uk

In the past people threw tea, acid, cake, and empty at the painting. But despite these attacks, the painting has consistently remained undamaged, as it is well-protected behind the bullet-proof glass that surrounds it, preserving one of the most famous paintings

6 Times the Mona Lisa Was Vandalized or Stolen

See six times the Mona Lisa was vandalized or stolen.

www.artnews.com

Mona Lisa vandalism: The full record of attempted attacks on the famous painting

Arguably the most famous painting in the world is da Vinci's Mona Lisa, which recently made headlines due to the incident where a man smeared cake frosting in an attempt to hurt th

www.marca.com

 

[vocalneal]

Didn't most famous artworks of the past come from artists who had patrons? So surely to get more art we need more patrons?

 

[serious_fun]

Recent reports ... blahblahblah

None of which happened in Indonesia, nor did the incident involve Indonesian contemporary art/design, the actual topic of this thread.

 

[serious_fun]

Didn't most famous artworks of the past come from artists who had patrons? So surely to get more art we need more patrons?

I'd say that the art market has been a place that required excess wealth ... societies that have excess wealth will invariably have collectors, galleries, well funded and professionally curated museums, etc.

BUT the fine arts do not require patrons. The fine arts do not require the excess wealth, although it would be wonderful to have genuine philanthropists who donate and otherwise support the fine arts.

Indonesia, it seems to me, was turned into a cultural wasteland during the great patriotic time of murder and terror, (merdeka! yippee!), where intellectuals had to flee or work in secret or be taken away in the dead of night... the loss of those intellectuals, in turn, led to a very noticeable lack of leading educators and/or figures who could help to nurture the next generation(s). We are here in the year 2024 and from what I can see, there is a very real and a very dangerous dearth of fine art in the daily life of Indonesians.* Obviously it's not just "creative industry" that needs this... engineering/architecture, basic problem solving, new business ventures, corporate leadership, common sense urban planning, etc., etc.

Perhaps the lack of intellectuals as role models is exacerbated by cultural norms/religious or superstitious beliefs/low IQ and a horrible 'education' system/etc. (I'm trying to be diplomatic), but a society that doesn't seem to celebrate the fine arts beyond batik and dangdut is in danger of remaining a stagnant place for youth. And a stagnant place for visitors (and expats [me] ) who may be accustomed to having access to vibrant arts organizations and museums, trained art educators, regular art exhibitions around the community, art supplies easily found in shops, etc.

You may notice that I never mentioned corruption; how would patronage of the fine arts work in Indonesia? Ooops! I mentioned corruption.

Things move slowly. I'm encouraged by the few organizations and schools that are working towards a better future for the fine arts in Indonesia. Please visit one or more of the URLs which I've posted above...there are some great things happening! Maybe even outside of Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya!



*I do not live in Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya.

 

[Shadrach]

I'd say that the art market has been a place that required excess wealth ... societies that have excess wealth will invariably have collectors, galleries, well funded and professionally curated museums, etc.

BUT the fine arts do not require patrons. The fine arts do not require the excess wealth, although it would be wonderful to have genuine philanthropists who donate and otherwise support the fine arts.

Indonesia, it seems to me, was turned into a cultural wasteland during the great patriotic time of murder and terror, (merdeka! yippee!), where intellectuals had to flee or work in secret or be taken away in the dead of night... the loss of those intellectuals, in turn, led to a very noticeable lack of leading educators and/or figures who could help to nurture the next generation(s). We are here in the year 2024 and from what I can see, there is a very real and a very dangerous dearth of fine art in the daily life of Indonesians.* Obviously it's not just "creative industry" that needs this... engineering/architecture, basic problem solving, new business ventures, corporate leadership, common sense urban planning, etc., etc.

Perhaps the lack of intellectuals as role models is exacerbated by cultural norms/religious or superstitious beliefs/low IQ and a horrible 'education' system/etc. (I'm trying to be diplomatic), but a society that doesn't seem to celebrate the fine arts beyond batik and dangdut is in danger of remaining a stagnant place for youth. And a stagnant place for visitors (and expats [me] ) who may be accustomed to having access to vibrant arts organizations and museums, trained art educators, regular art exhibitions around the community, art supplies easily found in shops, etc.

You may notice that I never mentioned corruption; how would patronage of the fine arts work in Indonesia? Ooops! I mentioned corruption.

Things move slowly. I'm encouraged by the few organizations and schools that are working towards a better future for the fine arts in Indonesia. Please visit one or more of the URLs which I've posted above...there are some great things happening! Maybe even outside of Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya!



*I do not live in Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya.

Very good point about the lack quality construction, urban planning, infrastructure, from what I've seen the quality of urban planning, and construction is really broken with no quality control. Look at the sidewalks and houses and commercial buildings that were put in over the past twenty years, and now are already falling apart. In the States there is government control over all these things. If something is constructed, not up to a required standard then the permit to open is denied. For example look at the stairs here, they can be built without any height regulation! Some of them are ridiculously high and dangerous, and when you go to a store or Pertamina petrol station all the toilet seats are broken! Where are the health inspectors? There are no health standards at local markets with plastic, rubbish, rats, being controlled. So this refers to the apathy of everything done here. Which is fine art also. It seems if anything artful being built, it refers to religion only. There is so much more to art than religion. This place is stuck in a time warp of apathy towards modernization and quality living!

 

[Shadrach]

I'd say that the art market has been a place that required excess wealth ... societies that have excess wealth will invariably have collectors, galleries, well funded and professionally curated museums, etc.

BUT the fine arts do not require patrons. The fine arts do not require the excess wealth, although it would be wonderful to have genuine philanthropists who donate and otherwise support the fine arts.

Indonesia, it seems to me, was turned into a cultural wasteland during the great patriotic time of murder and terror, (merdeka! yippee!), where intellectuals had to flee or work in secret or be taken away in the dead of night... the loss of those intellectuals, in turn, led to a very noticeable lack of leading educators and/or figures who could help to nurture the next generation(s). We are here in the year 2024 and from what I can see, there is a very real and a very dangerous dearth of fine art in the daily life of Indonesians.* Obviously it's not just "creative industry" that needs this... engineering/architecture, basic problem solving, new business ventures, corporate leadership, common sense urban planning, etc., etc.

Perhaps the lack of intellectuals as role models is exacerbated by cultural norms/religious or superstitious beliefs/low IQ and a horrible 'education' system/etc. (I'm trying to be diplomatic), but a society that doesn't seem to celebrate the fine arts beyond batik and dangdut is in danger of remaining a stagnant place for youth. And a stagnant place for visitors (and expats [me] ) who may be accustomed to having access to vibrant arts organizations and museums, trained art educators, regular art exhibitions around the community, art supplies easily found in shops, etc.

You may notice that I never mentioned corruption; how would patronage of the fine arts work in Indonesia? Ooops! I mentioned corruption.

Things move slowly. I'm encouraged by the few organizations and schools that are working towards a better future for the fine arts in Indonesia. Please visit one or more of the URLs which I've posted above...there are some great things happening! Maybe even outside of Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya!



*I do not live in Jakarta/Bandung/Yogya.

Also the time of Merdeka sounds very familiar to the time of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, in which all intellectuals were killed or imprisoned, or made to go work the fields.

 

[fastpitch17]

Very good point about the lack quality construction, urban planning, infrastructure, from what I've seen the quality of urban planning, and construction is really broken with no quality control. Look at the sidewalks and houses and commercial buildings that were put in over the past twenty years, and now are already falling apart. In the States there is government control over all these things. If something is constructed, not up to a required standard then the permit to open is denied. For example look at the stairs here, they can be built without any height regulation! Some of them are ridiculously high and dangerous, and when you go to a store or Pertamina petrol station all the toilet seats are broken! Where are the health inspectors? There are no health standards at local markets with plastic, rubbish, rats, being controlled. So this refers to the apathy of everything done here. Which is fine art also. It seems if anything artful being built, it refers to religion only. There is so much more to art than religion. This place is stuck in a time warp of apathy towards modernization and quality living!

There are quite a few regulations in place concerning building and health standards. There are also many inspectors in each of these departments. Very rich inspectors.

 

[Shadrach]

There are quite a few regulations in place concerning building and health standards. There are also many inspectors in each of these departments. Very rich inspectors.

Well that's good that there are the regulations. Just live here, go to the markets, a great example is the big seafood market near Jimbaran, unbelievably clean, spotless you might say! I'm sure the health inspectors are there everyday making sure it's cleaned spotless! it even takes your breath away they have done such a great job! Look at the buildings constructed just a few years ago, already falling apart. That is a sign of great inspections, and the stairs a third of a meter or more high, another quality job of inspecting! No wonder they get payed so well for enforcing such high standards!

 

[MamangDudul]

Well that's good that there are the regulations. Just live here, go to the markets, a great example is the big seafood market near Jimbaran, unbelievably clean, spotless you might say! I'm sure the health inspectors are there everyday making sure it's cleaned spotless! it even takes your breath away they have done such a great job! Look at the buildings constructed just a few years ago, already falling apart. That is a sign of great inspections, and the stairs a third of a meter or more high, another quality job of inspecting! No wonder they get payed so well for enforcing such high standards!

From all of your posts here, one thing is clear: You should probably go back to America and start a hippie revival or something like that. Let's see how many people are in for it.

Look it's all nice and good to complain about things here, but your constant talk about a world without possession, religion and probability governments is naive at best. It didn't work out with the hippies did it? Yet you constantly whine and complain about a country like Indonesia not following your romantic ideals, while your own, super great, super developed country didn't even come close to these ideals either.
Look, Indonesia is about religion/tradition and money/status. Which ones comes first is probably interchangeable.

Yet with all of these terrible things, you still live here. As do some others who are constantly complaining. What is the reason? Married here? Well you could still live in your own country where everything is better. Retired here? Why retire in such a terrible place? because it's affordable? and you can afford your romantic world view here,while 90% of all other people can't. Cause one thing is for sure, as foreigners we will never ever change Indonesia. We can't get even change our own countries.

Again, it's all nice and good and I actually share quite a few of your thoughts but Iam also kind of a realist. As long as we don't see a total collapse of the system, world wide, there will never be a chance to create anything better or new for the majority, not just for a few hippies. All of what is, is so burned into our DNA by now that I can hardly see humans behaving in any other way. And even if we see a collapse of all systems, cultures and whatever, the next time around it might go into similar ways again. Cause we are like we are, as much as we can be good and creative and love our next one, we can also be bad, weak and easily seduced by things.

Sorry if some of that sounded harsh, it's just something i had on my mind.

 

[fastpitch17]

While there are many things to like about Indonesia that keeps me here, I also complain about some things basically because I know some things could be better. Not necessarily just for me but for all. My biggest pet peace and probably what I complain about most is traffic. I am well aware there are numerous laws concerning traffic but hardly ever enforced. I am also aware the police who have the responsibility to enforce the traffic laws are under paid so have found other ways to supplement their incomes. At the same time I figure that if their wages increased there would be no change in collecting that additional income because it is the norm. Same for a lot of the corruption here. Not just for me because I do not drive any longer.

What I find sad is the loss of culture in so many places. Is that progress? Some may say yes, I do not. What were once rituals and performances with meanings to one's culture have for so many become a form of entertainment for the Rupiah return they get from them.

No, no hippie communes here but really, maybe they should have experienced what they first offered and the changes they did bring about. Not all good for sure but a hell of a learning experience for many.

No matter how anyone feels about Indonesia one just needs to accept this nation is influenced by Islam. This is not going to change by any of us complaining about it. It will only change if the mindset of the masses change. You can politely question something about it but you can not attack it. Bali is Hindu, Toba and Torraja are Christian but look at who are moving there. Eventually, they will all be Muslim controlled. Not tomorrow but it will come. One family at a time.

 

[pantaiema]

Very good point about the lack quality construction, urban planning, infrastructure, from what I've seen the quality of urban planning, and construction is really broken with no quality control. Look at the sidewalks and houses and commercial buildings that were put in over the past twenty years, and now are already falling apart. In the States there is government control over all these things. If something is constructed, not up to a required standard then the permit to open is denied. For example look at the stairs here, they can be built without any height regulation! Some of them are ridiculously high and dangerous, and when you go to a store or Pertamina petrol station all the toilet seats are broken! Where are the health inspectors? There are no health standards at local markets with plastic, rubbish, rats, being controlled. So this refers to the apathy of everything done here. Which is fine art also. It seems if anything artful being built, it refers to religion only. There is so much more to art than religion. This place is stuck in a time warp of apathy towards modernization and quality living!

I understand that this topic is diverting from the original thread, but someone has raised it here. The vandalism attack on the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris is at least more pertinent to this thread, as it relates to the original discussion about art and painting. Furthermore, in today's interconnected world, it's not unusual in discussion forums to draw comparisons with practices from other countries. The mods might want to move it to a new thread called 'Quality Assurance and Standard in Indonesia' (?).

When it comes to quality control and standards, Indonesia is among the countries that incorporate numerous standards from various other nations. The quality assurance entities, standard authorities, lawmakers, and law enforcement agencies in Indonesia have spent significant public funds in conducting comparative studies abroad to identify the most suitable standards for adoption in Indonesia. As a result, there is a wide array of standards available in the country.

Regarding quality control, quality assurance, it is not uncommon that in Indonesia, people will typically check the quality when there is a personal and/or financial incentive to do so. For personal projects like their own homes, buildings, or mechanical and electrical systems installations, individuals can always hire knowledgeable professionals to ensure compliance with standards if they want. However, this depends on whether they prioritize meeting these standards and are willing to pay for it. In reality, some individuals may bribe authorities to overlook non-compliance with standards.

For projects financed by public funds, such as taxpayer money or loans from overseas, quality assurance enforcers may receive payment from contractors who deviate from existing standards and procedures. There are discussions on this topic already present in this forum.

Indonesia & Corruption: a few articles in the past few weeks

While there is still the group of untouchables, it has been encouraging to see high level officials being charged with corruption. But I do wonder about follow up with charges laid against those offering and providing bribes. I can understand the difficulties involving foreign entities but why...

www.expatindo.org

Are you ready for Jokowi-Prabowo 2024?

Watched Gibran today fielding questions from media and surprised that he still seems so uncomfortable and when pressed walked away. Such a strange seeming alliance with Prabowo. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out. With the major Indonesian TV syndicates owned and managed by people...

www.expatindo.org

That might be the reason why figures like Probowo Subianto, Jusuf Kalla, Johny G Plate, Syahrul Y Limpo, Lucas enembe, etc along with certain law enforcers and tax inspectors, have amassed wealth. This is also frequently cited as a reason why the Indonesian government opts for foreign contractors over local ones in projects like the Indonesian New National Capital City (IKN). They aim to avoid repeating the experience of numerous elementary school buildings (SD Inpres) of very low quality, many of which were constructed during the Suharto regime.

To gauge the quality of buildings, construction projects in Indonesia, consider contrasting the houses constructed in England with those in Indonesia. Numerous houses built during the Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901, when Queen Victoria reigned, still stand today. Often, they have been adorned with new decorations over time, but the original foundations and walls remain largely unchanged. Similarly to many canals built during the Victorian era in England which still exist and in use today.

 

[fastpitch17]

Why do some keep comparing Indonesia to Europe when the entire environment, both physical and social are totally different and always has been?

 

[centurion]

Why do some keep comparing Indonesia to Europe when the entire environment, both physical and social are totally different and always has been?

Because of the European legacy?

 

[harryopal1]

I am much happier living here than remaining in Australia. The positives are affordability, the climate, friendly people and not freezing to death when I go for a swim.

As for standards... well? Living on a hill in Jimbaran in a complex that is less than 20 years, old every time I drive up the broken, uneven falling to bits cobblestone lane I find myself thinking of the Romans who made cobblestone roads which are still intact 2000 years later. And by comparison Australian road and urban layout systems are wonderful but I am not rushing back to avoid a few bumps.

 

[fastpitch17]

I am much happier living here than remaining in Australia. The positives are affordability, the climate, friendly people and not freezing to death when I go for a swim.

As for standards... well? Living on a hill in Jimbaran in a complex that is less than 20 years, old every time I drive up the broken, uneven falling to bits cobblestone lane I find myself thinking of the Romans who made cobblestone roads which are still intact 2000 years later. And by comparison Australian road and urban layout systems are wonderful but I am not rushing back to avoid a few bumps.
View attachment 3848

My house is just over 4 years old. I live on a gang with a single entrance with cement roads. While narrow, there is very little traffic and it's nice and quiet. I have not seen a snowflake in oh so many years and hope I never do. Those years of clearing sidewalks and driveways are long gone. The clearing of driveway entrances only to have a street plow pack it full with snow and ice right after are long gone. The days of driving 42 miles twice a day to and from work where in the Winter you could end up plowing snow with your car or getting stuck waiting for a plow are long gone. I like year round green.

 

[pantaiema]

Why do some keep comparing Indonesia to Europe when the entire environment, both physical and social are totally different and always has been?

A significant portion of Indonesian standards, quality assurances, laws, and educational systems or other systems bear resemblance to those established during the colonial Dutch period. Additionally, many aspects are more aligned with the European system overall rather than with systems from countries like the United States or Japan. An illustrative example of this influence can be seen in Indonesia's electricity system, which initially operated on 110 volts but was subsequently changed to 220 volts, operating at a frequency of 50 Hz. The same thing with electric sockets / receptacles.

Examining and contrasting Indonesian standards, laws, regulations, and systems with those of the Dutch colonial era are probably the best thing to do. But the problem here is that it is only a small proportion of people could understand Dutch language.

The term like "sanering," as observed in the Indonesian monetary system during Soekarno regime, can be directly linked to its origins in the Dutch system. I have not found the same term in English language that could represent this term in monetary system.