An Indonesian art exhibit will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Singapore, displaying masterpieces by artists from both countries. The show, which will be on display through the middle of October, showcases eight creative minds between the two nations. By focusing on the individuals and their art, one diplomat said the show reflected the importance of personal relationships in diplomatic efforts. The reason Singapore and Indonesia are close are because of these relationships, including the free exchange of information and cultural understanding. For example, three of the Indonesian artists featured in the show actually studied art and honed their aesthetic styles in Singapore.
The first of the artists is the youngest painter on display. Just in his mid-20s, the artist said that he never sketched out his paintings before completing them, preferring the organic feeling of creating on the fly, paint on his paintbrush. One of his most notable works on display as a part of the celebration is a painting composed of many different canvases spliced together and arranged to show a self-portrait. The artist looks at the viewer with blank, empty eyes, wearing an apron covered with paint stains. Behind the artist are hard questions, often philosophical and doubtful, scrawled in white over a dark blue background.
Another artist’s work highlights his experience as a graphic designer. The piece in question is heavily influenced by the 1960s, Japan, and pop culture. A pale woman with a bright red bindi gazes into the distance, her face reflected in the mirror in front of her. The entire work features bright, almost neon colors. The pinks and vivid warm colors move the viewer to recall psychedelic culture. Other textures present in the work, like an intricately dotted floor, recall previous pop artists and artworks.
The third featured artist works in a genre that straddles traditional 2-D art and contemporary 3-D assemblage art. The work in question is a large wooden board functioning as the canvas. A circular piece toward the top of the wood has been removed, displaying the thickness of the wood. But instead of paint and figures as the subject of the artwork, the artist has layered strips of paper, creating a richly colored and textured visual display. The end result is an aesthetically pleasing abstract work that would look at home when paired with any other decor in a house.
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To read more about the artists and the event, go to http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2016/12/01/jakarta-exhibition-highlights-local-innovative-artwork-products.html.