Today, Art Jakarta officially opens its doors. This international art week takes place over three days, from November 17 to 19, 2023, at the prominent convention location, JIEXPO Kemayoran, in Central Jakarta, as its new venue. The event is inaugurated with a performance by the TRUST Orchestra.
Since its inception in 2009 as Bazaar Art Jakarta, this art week has always been open to change and adaptation. In its thirteenth edition this year, Art Jakarta once again demonstrates this by moving to JIEXPO Kemayoran.
MRA Group CEO Maulana Indraguna states, "Art Jakarta, as part of MRA Media, continues to evolve in response to the development of the Indonesian art scene. I am proud that Art Jakarta has become a highly anticipated international contemporary art week for all. Hopefully, Art Jakarta will continue to be an international platform for key stakeholders in Asia and contribute to the art ecosystem in the region."
Covering an area of approximately 10,000 m2, Art Jakarta 2023 presents a larger exhibition with more exhibitors than the previous year, featuring a total of 68 galleries from Indonesia (40) and abroad (28) showcasing their latest works. Foreign galleries come from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
Artistic Director Enin Supriyanto expresses, "In the new venue, Art Jakarta this year has gained full confidence from participating galleries and partners. Everyone is optimistic. We all hope that at JIEXPO Kemayoran, Art Jakarta can play an increasingly important role in shaping the dynamics of the visual arts scene in Indonesia, and even Asia."
Art Jakarta is proud to collaborate with three Main Partners this year: Julius Baer, a leading institution in the world of wealth management with a long tradition as an art patron; UOB Indonesia, a regional banking institution and consistent supporter of the arts, committed to its initiatives in Southeast Asia; and Bibit, an award-winning digital investment application promoting financial literacy throughout Indonesia. These three partners collaborate with talented artists, presenting award-winning works and commissioned pieces making their debut.
This year, Art Jakarta's collaboration with its partners can be categorized into three aspects.
AWARDS
In Art Jakarta 2023, the partners will showcase recently awarded artworks. Julius Baer launches new works by the winners of the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize in Asia 2023, displayed in a special area, the Julius Baer VIP Lounge.
According to Vi Sun Yang, Indonesia Market Head and Group Head Private Banking Southeast Asia at Julius Baer, "As a leading institution in the Swiss wealth management sector, Julius Baer has a long tradition of supporting the arts. The Julius Baer Art Collection was established in 1981 and now includes over 5,000 works in various mediums. We are expanding our support for the arts by venturing into Southeast Asia, and particularly Indonesia, through the Next Generation Art Prize exhibition held at the Asian level. Julius Baer is inspired by the belief that art can always be a means to bring us closer to clients, art lovers, and society in general."
Furthermore, UOB Indonesia presents UOB Art Space, a 148.5 square meter space exhibiting 25 latest works by the winners of the UOB Painting of the Year from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Maya Rizano, Head of Strategic Communications and Brand at UOB Indonesia, reveals, "At UOB, we believe that art plays a crucial role in bridging language and culture, helping connect people from diverse backgrounds, especially as we have a rich cultural heritage in Southeast Asia. Our commitment to the art world is reflected in the consistent organization of the UOB Painting of the Year, now in its 42nd year at the regional level and 13th year in Indonesia. We also appreciate the six-year partnership with Art Jakarta, aiming to strengthen the entire art ecosystem from upstream to downstream. This creates a memorable experience for artists, art enthusiasts, and the community, fostering interaction, opening art dialogues, and enriching artistic lives."
Meanwhile, Treasury, a digital platform for physical gold trading, showcases the works of the winner of the Treasury Art Prize 2023, Eldwin Pradipta, titled "Is 'This Artwork' in the Room with Us Right Now?" illustrating the parallelism between gold investment and the world of art.
SUPERLIVE also presents the works of three winners of the SUPERMUSIC-SUPERSTAR competition in a multimedia installation themed "Reconstruction The Deconstruction," highlighting the creative process of the artists.
PRESENTATIONS
This year's Art Jakarta includes exciting projects by more partners collaborating with some of the most creative talents in the art world. Bibit presents the artwork "Memory Mirror Palace" by Syagini Ratna Wulan (Indonesia), a development of Lost Verses showcased at the Indonesia Pavilion in the Venice Biennale 2019 and exhibited for the first time in Indonesia.
Although relatively new to art involvement, Bibit has become a steadfast supporter of artists. Olivia Budiono, Product Marketing Lead at Bibit, says, "At Bibit, we strongly believe that financial empowerment is within everyone's reach. Our award-winning investment platform is designed to help individuals take control of their wealth and pursue their aspirations. With Bibit, we are not just an investment platform; we offer unique opportunities for you to shape the life you desire. By entrusting your financial journey to us, you take a step towards empowering yourself to achieve dreams and aspirations. Your financial potential is our priority."
Indeed, the intersection of art and the economy is not just about personal investment. Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, states, "The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy strives to promote creative economic events that add value to the country's foreign exchange. We believe that Art Jakarta plays a crucial role in making a significant contribution to the country's economy. We appreciate the sustainability of Art Jakarta as an international exhibition in Indonesia that needs to be maintained to strengthen Indonesia's position in the global art scene."
Furthermore, a special presentation is also brought by iForte, consistently harnessing the potential of technology in artistic creation. This time, iForte presents a digital visual projection installation driven by data, titled "NOC// Turne" by Jeffi Manzani (Indonesia).
TACO, a trusted brand in interior solutions, collaborates with Park Jihyun (South Korea) to exhibit "Thomson 6.1944 S 106.8229 E," a Special Edition from the Thomson Series by the artist, creating a new narrative for disposable items in combination with TACO products.
Meanwhile, Blue Label features the work "IN/TOUNGE/IBLE" by Rebellionik (Indonesia), which will evoke special sensory experiences in an installation.
Finally, MINI, in collaboration with Syaiful Garibaldi (Indonesia), showcases "MINI x Syaiful Garibaldi," an art car concept that explores the harmony of nature, camouflage, and mimetic adaptation, utilizing Tillandsia usneoides.
Two other special presentations are featured in AJX, a collaborative initiative between Art Jakarta and institutions or private companies to present art collections to the general public at Art Jakarta. This year, AJX presents the ASEAN-Korea Partnership Project for Innovative Culture (PIC), showcasing works by ASEAN-Korea artists through the collections of ASEAN-Korea galleries, providing an overview of the mapping and relationships in the ASEAN-Korea art world. Also featured is the exhibition "Vice Versa," showcasing portraits of Indonesian artists by Indra Leonardi, taken over the years, along with the artists' collaborative responses to these portrait works, illustrating their friendship and creative relationships.
PROGRAM
In addition to special presentations with partners mentioned above, Art Jakarta 2023 features a proven highlight program every year.
GALLERY
The main segment of Art Jakarta welcomes exhibitors consisting of 40 galleries from Indonesia and 28 foreign galleries, including longstanding participants. Art Jakarta is pleased to introduce new exhibitors who have not previously exhibited here. See the complete list of exhibitors in Annex 1.
SPOT
A platform for special presentations in the form of art installations specially tailored for this art week. This year, Art Jakarta Spot presents nine curated works to be exhibited in public areas during the art week, including "Order of Things" by Jose Santos (Philippines), a result of personal construction-reconstruction actions, arranging various objects to be revived and reframed as a coded language for past lives; and "Neither Body nor Soul" (2018) by Nipan Oranniwesna (Thailand), highlighting the concept of boundaries and intersections between both sides of the border. Both works are presented in Indonesia for the first time. See the complete Spot artwork list in Annex 2.
PLAY
by UOB Indonesia. Designed specifically to provide a play area for children, sharpening creativity, sensitivity, and imagination through various activities. Presented by UOB Indonesia, Play this year is commissioned to Farhan Siki, winner of the UOB Indonesia Painting of the Year 2022, to create an interactive space titled "Plant a Tree, Plant a Life," where children can explore art by playing and imagining.
SCENE
A special segment for artist collectives and non-profits to fundraise for their initiatives. Art Jakarta supports initiatives that require creative formats in this fundraising effort, especially those outside Jakarta and its surroundings, to strengthen the spirit of the art community. See the complete list of 33 participating groups in Annex 3.
AJ TALK
A platform for experts, observers, artists, collectors, and curators to discuss and share experiences and knowledge with visitors. With a lineup of trusted names and interesting figures in the art scene, this segment is an integral part of Art Jakarta. This year, AJ Talk serves as a platform for, among other things, the launch of the book "Vice Versa" by photographer Indra Leonardi, "Illuminations" by critic Carla Bianpoen, and "Skena 2000>" by curator/writer Farah Wardani; discussions about a book tracing the journey of abstract painter Nunung WS; discussions about the works of the winners of the UOB Indonesia Painting of the Year; and a discussion about creativity with Evan Wijaya (graphic designer), Agatha Carolina (architect, interior designer), and Katarina Monika (creative director).
With various activities in the above program, Art Jakarta receives recognition from the government. Director General of Culture at the Ministry of Education and Culture Ristek Hilmar Farid states, "Art Jakarta 2023 is a tangible manifestation of tireless innovation in creativity. This year, we will once again witness an art celebration that combines tradition, modernity, and technology in Jakarta. As a new, larger, and more strategic venue, JIEXPO Kemayoran is the perfect canvas for artists and galleries from both domestic and international backgrounds to showcase their best works. Partnerships with Julius Baer, UOB Indonesia, and Bibit affirm our joint commitment to the sustainable growth of the art ecosystem. We hope that this art week will be a bridge for a more inclusive and innovative cultural dialogue, enriching our cultural heritage while strengthening the art ecosystem in Indonesia."