As the official media partner of Art Jakarta 2023, Social Expat was invited to attend the grand opening of one of the renowned international art fairs of the year.
Spanning three days from the 17th to the 19th of November 2023, Art Jakarta 2023 took place at the Jakarta International Expo (JIEXPO) Kemayoran, occupying the vast areas of Hall B3 and C3. Covering an exhibition space of 10,000 square meters, this year’s Art Jakarta showcased an increased number of exhibitors, totalling 68 galleries, compared to the previous year.
The first day’s exhibition commenced with speeches from leading figures in the creative industry and major sponsors of Art Jakarta 2023.
Kicking off with a warm address from the CEO of MRA Group, Maulana Indraguna Sutowo, who expressed hopes that Art Jakarta, which began 13 years ago, would offer broader opportunities to art enthusiasts and practitioners in Indonesia. Yang Vi Shun and Maya Lizano, representatives from Julius Baer and UOB Indonesia, also extended a warm welcome as pioneering main sponsors of the Art Jakarta exhibition.
Adding to the excitement, Raditya Dika, as the Brand Ambassador of Bibit, expressed his delight in participating in this year’s Art Jakarta, portraying a new face for Bibit while being an active participant and art enthusiast.
Through the remarks of the Deputy for Marketing of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) of Indonesia, Ni Made Ayu Martini, the Ministry extended support to Art Jakarta this year along with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) of Indonesia and several private institutions, showcasing a variety of artworks from local and international artists.
Following Ayu, the Director-General of Culture at Kemendikbudristek RI, Hilmar Farid agreed that this exhibition marked a turning point in the art and creative economy industry. He emphasized that the pandemic, which had affected the world in recent years, had spurred greater enthusiasm among communities to reignite industries and the economy in Indonesia.
Hilmar’s closing remarks and the signing of the canvas bearing “Art Jakarta 2023” officially marked the opening of one of Southeast Asia’s largest art exhibitions.
Art Jakarta 2023 Presents Talented Artists From Various Countries
A total of 40 galleries from Indonesia and 28 galleries from overseas showcased their latest artworks. International galleries hailed from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
Premier Launch of Vice Versa, A Perspective on Art Through Photography by Indra Leonardi
Marking a culmination of 26 years in photography, the art community eagerly anticipated the launch of “Vice Versa” on November 18, 2023, coinciding with the opening of the prestigious Art Jakarta exhibition. Indra Leonardi’s book, “Vice Versa,” visualizes Indra’s perspective on the evolution of art and artists in Indonesia. The book offers insights into Indra Leonardi’s extensive career, showcasing his evolution in the world of photography over two decades. Simultaneously, the book serves as a witness to Indonesia’s art growth and transition, reflecting the heartbeat of the artist community. Merging the personal with the collective, Leonardi also reminisces about his first encounter with photography, an art form he passionately inherited through his family.
At Art Jakarta 2023, 78 artworks discussed in the book were displayed in an installation, enhancing the visual impact and storytelling of each piece discussed. Additionally, prints of “Vice Versa” were available for purchase during the exhibition.
6 Main Segments with a More Diverse Range of Activities
Exploring Art Jakarta Gallery
The main segment of this art week encompassed a total of 68 galleries, including 40 from Indonesia and 29 from overseas, such as Southeast Asia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Within this segment, Art Jakarta presented a variety of artworks.
Here are a few artists who caught our attention, and contributed their artworks to Art Jakarta 2023:
Syagini Ratna Wulan – Inspirational Display by Bibit.id
One of the highlights is the Bibit.id booth showcasing an installation art piece by Syagini Ratna Wulan titled “Lost Verses, Reason Does Not Come Once, Negotiation Does Not Arrive Once.” This artwork was previously exhibited at the Venice Art Biennale 2019.
Syagini Ratna Wulan’s work aims to enter the realm of interpretation, consciousness, reflection, and imagination within transparent cabinets. Inspired by this work, Bibit.id presents the narrative of “Stop, Breath, and Reflect.”
Through “Stop, Breath, and Reflect,” Bibit also invites the public to reconsider their financial goals, allowing them to make informed decisions to step closer towards achieving those objectives.
Park Ji Hyun – TACO
Upon entering the exhibition space, visitors were captivated as they observed the showcased artworks. The striking presentation at the entrance of hall B3 was Thomson 6.1944 S 106 8229 E by Park Ji Hyun, a Korean artist who was a significant contributor to Art Jakarta 2023 sponsored by TACO. The contemporary art impression was vividly expressed through the towering, colourful wooden window collage exhibition, leaving a lasting impression on us and other visitors.
Etza Meisyara and Ho Seok Kee: UOB Painting of The Year
Following the inaugural ceremony, we visited the Art Space installation UOB. We were greeted with stunning artwork by both local and international winners of the UOB Painting of The Year. One of them was Etza Meisyara.
Etza’s interest in various art forms has motivated her to continually explore new mediums to represent her work. As a multimedia artist, Etza combines her visual works with musical instruments she creates, providing a story that visitors can enjoy using headphones while admiring the displayed paintings.
Another artwork was by Ho Seok Kee, a renowned artist from Singapore who participated in enriching the available panels at the UOB Art Space. Her visually classic style invites art enthusiasts to rediscover paintings reminiscent of Chinese dynasty aesthetics.
Art Jakarta Scene
Art Jakarta scene was a special segment presented for artist collectives and non-profits in their efforts to raise funds. It aims to strengthen the art community by offering various merchandise and publications.
AJ Play
This area was specifically designed to provide a play area for children, nurturing creativity, sensitivity, and imagination through various activities. This year, the Art Jakarta team collaborated with UOB Indonesia.
Art Jakarta Play was created by Farhan Siki, the winner of the UOB Indonesia Painting of the Year 2022. The artist will create an interactive space titled “Plant a Tree, Plant a Life,” where children can play and imagine with visual art.
Art Jakarta Spot
This exhibition serves as a special platform featuring installation artworks curated for this art week. There will be 9 art pieces showcased in the public area as part of the Art Jakarta Spot segment.
Some of them include works by Jose Santos (Philippines), reflecting personal construction-reconstruction acts, and Nipan Oranniwesna (Thailand), highlighting the concept of boundaries and intersections between both sides of the border in “Neither Body nor Soul” (2018).
AJ Talks
A platform for experts, observers, artists, collectors, and curators to share experiences and knowledge with visitors. This year, AJ Talk became a platform for the launch of the book “Vice Versa” by photographer Indra Leonardi and “Illuminations” by critic Carla Bianpoen, as well as discussions about creativity with Evan Wijaya (graphic designer) and Samantha K. Jackson (Percolate Galactic).
AJX
AJX is a collaborative initiative between Art Jakarta and private institutions or companies to showcase their collections at Art Jakarta for a wider audience. AJX offers the public the first glimpse of some of these collection artworks.
This year, AJX presents the ASEAN-KOREA Partnership Project for Innovative Culture (PIC) collaboration and exhibits artworks from ASEAN-KOREA artists through the ASEAN-KOREA gallery collection. There is also the Vice Versa exhibition, displaying portraits of Indonesian artists by Indra Leonardi, resonating with local artists.
Through these various segments, Art Jakarta strengthens the foundation and ecosystem of Indonesia’s art scene to continue growing alongside global art dynamics. Excited to visit and learn more about art in Indonesia through Art Jakarta? Mark your calendars and get ready to participate in the next Art Jakarta Exhibition!
