*beware of bad english* LOL ... its okey lah yea :P:P:P
Jakarta Biennale XIII 2009 : Arena
My trip to Jakarta unexpectedly turned out to be another ‘biennale-hunting’ journey, but not so quite like Belief. The artworks were scattered around Jakarta with three main venue, Senayan City (SC), Grand Indonesia (GI) and the Indonesia National Gallery (GaNas). The pieces at SC was already dismantled by the time I reached Jakarta so I covered the remaining two venues, not only to discover but experience the worth-remembering works under the umbrella theme of Arena.
‘Arena’ is divided into three sectors, mainly Zona Pemahaman ( Zone of Understaning ), Zona Pertarungan ( Battle Zone ) and Zona Cair ( Fluid Zone ). The biennale which started since November last year, shifted from phase one to three. It ends in late February and currently, it is in the Fluid Zone phase, with some works from the Battle Zone remains decorating the street of Jakarta.
I did not really see the Battle Zone but there is a room dedicated to the phase in GaNas where it provides visitors with documentation of all the works, I think, accompanied with photos and artists’ profile. It was the best section of the biennale as I really am very fond of some of the works. Basically, the works under this phase is scattered around Jakarta and many are billboard-based works.
Some of the works that I really like are Ami & Popo’s Awas Begal! ( Beware of Robbers! ) is a series of posters pasted on three dangerous sites in Jakarta. The posters are in the shape of motorcylists being chased or provoked by guns, gigantic hands. The message is simple but the approach is one of which I would like to experiment in the near future. Next, Restu Ratnaningtyas’ Menunggu Bersama Bubblewrap ( Waiting With Bubblewraps ) is another very unique and creative work, very much unexpected. The artist actually wrap the parapet in bus stations with bubblewraps which allow passengers-in-waiting to play and interact with the bubblewrap. It is funny, comical in fact but the idea is really original. Another extraordinary work is Cecil Mariani’s Hantu Masa Lalu Taman Menteng ( Ghost In The Past In Menteng Park ). She created another dimension at Menteng Park, which was originally a soccer stadium. With photos printed on transparency and hung in various spots in the park, it looks like viewers are able to see the past. Other noticeable works are Eric Widjaja’s Billboard Meleleh ( Melting Billboard ), Ismiaji Cahyono’s Grogol = …., Arterpaper’s Rawan Paku dan Tambal Ban ( Of Nails and Flat Tires ).
The Fluid Zone is a more focused and mainstream art which are exhibited in GaNas and GI. Artworks included are ranging from paintings to installation with emphasis on contemporary art. Artists involved are internationals with some worth-mentioning names like Donna Ong ( Singapore ), Craig Walsh ( Australia ), Herman Chong ( Singapore ), Sylvain Sailly ( Canada ) and many more.
Honestly, I was not expecting much from this biennale but some of the works really blew me off. But before that, I want to make some comment on the works of the three Singaporean artists. Donna Ong’s The Meeting is capable of creating the dark and ‘chuky’ mood, despite the not-so-wise choice of venue. The photography installation is not as strong as the 4 video projection on the background. The videos speak more than the table with photos and 2 table lamps because they give life to the work as a whole, especially with the movement and changing of gradient in the video. Interestingly done, together with the sound, the whole installation piece manage to evoke, at least, fighting urge in me.
Ming Wong’s Four Malay Stories is an old work, but very comical and funny. I think it was exhibited in NUS Museum but heck care, this work made me laugh and laugh. The artist acted as various characters and speaking in various tone and accent to create the four stories based on P Ramlee’s films. Very very interesting, a must see exhibition if it were to be exhibited again in Singapore. Thumbs up
Lastly, Sherman Ong’s Hanoihaiku. What to say ? I always against his work. Lol. But indeed, even in this international exhibition ( for him ), his works are … -sorry- boring. They are photography montages creating a inseparable tryphtic pieces. I like the idea of 3 photographs but when it comes to his work, I don’t think it works in aesthetic value. Moreover, this exhibition, to my opinion, is very much about Indonesia, especially Jakarta. But his work focuses more on Hanoi. Maybe a more photography person can relate better to his.
Back to the Fluid Zone, some of the grade-A-works are Craig Walsh’s Incursion 43:38:36.19N/79:25:19:89W. This work is amazing amazing amazing amazing. It is one of the most favourite work in this biennale, wait, in fact it is my no 1 favourite work in Arena! The artist projected an slow video of an aquarium cum flooded café with oversized fishes and lobster. I cant really describe the work very much in details but I did some recording and a lot of pictures. Will post them soon. But seriously, I am so googling his name after this. The 43-years-old succeeded in evoking fear and uneasiness in me when one of the giant fishes and me exchanged stares.
Eko Nugroho’s Cari Selamat? Ikuti Gajah Ini ( Seeking Salvation? Follow These Elephants ) is another good work in the biennale. Followed by Handiwirman Saputra’s Exterior, Inside View- Interior, Outside View. This work is pretty much simple and … empty but it spoke to me. Iswanto Hartono’s Mellow is another work which I can refer to. Kuswidananto a.k.a Jompet’s Java’s Machine: Phantasmagoria is an interesting installation and interactive sound media. Nadiah Bamadhaj’s Harus Lewat Gapura ( Must Pass the Gapura ) is a piece which I would buy :P:P:P Phil Collin’s dunia tak akan mendengar ( the world wont listen ) is one of the very few video art that I enjoy very much. Poklong Anading’d Casket (Untitled) is another good one. Also RE Hartanto’s Cold Memory II which installation technique can be learnt from. Roslisham Ismail’s Hi-S-tory which is SUPER BORING but the combination montage of real footage and graphic drawing really interests me.
Tawatchai Puntusawasdi’s A Bind Is Crying plays with perspective, another work which really pleases the eye. Thaweesak Srithongdee’s Strawberry which among my top choice. His drawing and painting collage ( not really a collage but a potential good collage piece ) is something which I can relate to, as I find that I share similarities in doing works with him. Vincent Leong’s Tropical Paradise which is anti-climax but I still kind of like his work. If you saw his work at Sculpture Square during the 2006 Singapore Biennale, you can somehow guess what his work this time around is, just a different template and colour. Wimo Ambala Bayang’s Belanda Sudah Dekat! ( The Dutch Are Near! ) is a series of photography works which I like, again another rare occasion. An no, it is not a series of nude or semi naked men !!! LOL Yason Banal’s Untitled/Again (Marienbad/Jakarta) which I like just because of it being an installation cum performance. LOL
Lastly, I would like to talk about Khairuddin Hori’s Jakarta Biennale Community College and The Secret Agents’ The Secret Lobby. Both works are works which are very out of ordinary during biennale. In the previous two Singapore Biennale, there are some similar works, which I cant remember the title or artist. To describe them simply, both works are installation of public spaces where visitors can use the space to do anything. Just sitting down or resting, to studying and drawing. The differences between the two works is only one. Where Khai’s work is inside the gallery, Secret Agents’ work is more outdoor, even though it is not completely outdoor. The latter gives lesser freedom as they provide certain objects for viewers to play with but Khai’s really throw the floor to the viewers. These two works are indeed interesting and somehow, I believe both have crossed the boundary of contemporary art. I wrote a note in Khai’s work ( on the whiteboard ) : Maybe it is time for contemporary art to cross all … boundaries …
Indeed, it is the time for contemporary art to cross boundaries, and Jakarta Biennale XII Arena has shown to go further. I enjoyed this biennale as much as Belief and Wonder and even though it is smaller in scale, some works really spoke to me and I have gained something to improve in my art making from this unexpected journey. Maybe if I have more time, I would hunt more for the public art under the Battle Zone phase !!!
link to photos and videos will be posted later yeah
hohohoho
kelvin used his rune at // 7:45 PM
