Biennale Jogja X [Jogja Jamming]

Banner in front of Yogyakarta’s Cultural Center (TAMAN BUDAYA YOGYAKARTA) building, with Javanese script that reads “Seni Agawe Santosa” (which means “art towards prosperity”) What if Yogyakarta becomes a giant gallery? This is exactly what happens between December 10, 2009 – January 10, 2010. Various art activities are performed all over the town of Yogyakarta. This year, the biannual event’s theme is “Jogja Jamming: Art Movement Archives”, which is intended to present a kind of art kaleidoscope during the era of 1940 to 21st century. The archives are presented in the form of exhibitions by prominent artists in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas with various themes.

[caption id="attachment_37024" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The ‘curtain’ at the entrance of Yogyakarta’s Cultural Center building: in front of the building, a ‘curtain’ is placed. The ‘curtain’ was made of various metal parts, from screw to human forms."][/caption]

Up to now, to the best of my knowledge, the location of the art installations are spread among Yogyakarta’s TAMAN BUDAYA (northern side of Taman Pintar/Shopping Center), along Malioboro, and the historic building of Bank Indonesia. Those are the ones that I have had the opportunity to visit. Near the Kleringan water fontain (towards Malioboro from Jl. P. Mangkubumi), some angklung mills (angklung is an Indonesian traditional music instrument made of bamboo) are being installed. I was also informed by one source that there is also an exhibition in Jogja National Museum but I have not checked that out.

[caption id="attachment_37034" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Outside look: at the right hand side is a truck owned by SINTEN REMEN orchestra (Djaduk Ferianto) preparing the equipment for their performance in the opening ceremony."][/caption]

I arrived in Taman Budaya on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 9 am, when this building has not opened for public. I was invited by the artist Hedi Hariyanto to take pictures of his installation for documentation. While entering the building, I took picture of the building entrance, which was super artistic with hundreds of screws and human figures hanging. After enjoying myself there, I looked for Hedi. That morning Hedi was accompanied by his friend Awan Simatupang (an artist from Jakarta), who especially made a trip to Yogyakarta to attend the Biennale Jogja X. For Awang, this forum is very important to meet the artist communities for either brainstorming or enjoying other artists’ work.

[caption id="attachment_37037" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The sculptor Hedi Hariyanto sprays water on his installation to grow the mung beans planted on the soil spread around his main object. It is expected that the mung beans will sprout during the exhibition."][/caption] Entering the building, I immediately proceeded with my main purpose to come: taking pictures of Hedi’s installation entitled “RUMAH KITA” (our house). This installation was composed of MDF, glass, fertilized soil, water, and various things (including living things as he got some fish put in the aquarium at the center of his installation). Hedi’s work was inspired by the wonder of digital world, in which each human being is trapped in one’s own digital cage. The numbers represented the digitalization of our life. [caption id="attachment_37040" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Overall view of Hedi Hariyanto’s RUMAH KITA"][/caption] After taking pictures, accompanied by Hedi and Awang, I took a walk around the exhibition area. It is really a rare opportunity for me to get a backstage pass for this kind of exhibition (thanks for bro Hedi). It felt different, especially to be guided by a friend who was also an artist. It was such an unforgettable experience. Most of the arts displayed were paintings and installations. [caption id="attachment_37042" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The installation was surrounded by white curtain as a border of the installation’s atmosphere"][/caption]

All of the art work displayed there was just breathtakingly beautiful and represented the high taste in art, as illustrated in the pictures in this article.

There was one painting covered by sisal fabric presented by Ali Umar, who was invited to this BIENNALE JOGJA. Some little birds told me that the painting under the cover was actually a script that read like “TERIMA KASIH TELAH DIUNDANG KE BIENNALE” (thank you for inviting me to Biennale). Unfortunately I have not had the chance to verify that little birds’ gossip.

[caption id="attachment_37043" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Umar Ali’s “TERIMA KASIH”, still covered by sisal fabric, a small surprise from Ali"][/caption]

For me personally, this exhibition is an entertainment for both eyes and brain, where I can think and enjoy the art at the same time. Enjoying contemporary art is not merely art for art. Contemporary art presents art as a criticism, as an open invitation to think, a cordial invitation to enjoy, a tempting invitation to dream, to observe, and to let our brain sailing on the edges of beauties and the criticisms themselves. Joking around among the artists triggers a longing for more creation and as a result of that, we could enjoy the arts which are naughty, sarcastic, blur, and more than often, so awesome that we never thought before that something like that would be ever created.

In your spare time, considering that the exhibition is still open to January 10, 2010, find time to visit this exhibition. If you do not have the luxury of time to explore the indoor exhibition, you can also pass by Bank Indonesia building and enjoy some of the art work there. Enjoy art, to fulfill our destiny as civilized human beings.

[caption id="attachment_37044" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37045" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37046" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works (these are periscopes, which displayed different diorama in each one)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37047" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited paintings"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37049" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37050" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37051" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Some of the exhibited art works (the interesting thing is the fact that this was made of paper)"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37052" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="This one was also made of paper"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_37053" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="I Made Widya Diputra’s “POST POWER SYNDROME” (such an intriguing title)"][/caption] translated by: wiratni ( www.wiratni.wordpress.com )