yogyakarta
I first came to Yogyakarta in 2005, returning after 3 years I saw many developments in the city. I came here not only to investigate about media arts, but also to examine provision for young artists experimenting in various fields and in particular the relationship between arts and community. During my time here I attempted to explore the contemporary art resources of the city, visiting many of art spaces including Cemeti Art House, Mes56, Kedai Kebun, Taman Budaya, Jogya Gallery, LIP and the National Museum.
Yogyakarta is the cultural capital of Java it is said. With an ancient history of arts which is still appreciated today. Talking with local curators and artists it appears that Indonesia and particularly Jogya are currently experiencing a contemporary art boom, especially in the field of painting. Examining the records at Taman Budaya, the cultural centre for Jogya, there are hundreds of artists living in the city contributing their creative energy to a site which is historically famed for its strong community of arts and culture.
honf
But what is the role of new media art in all of this? As an emerging art form there are still many questions and debates surrounding the term definition and production of new media art. In Jogya as with many cities and contexts the support for new media practices are still in development but HONF are pioneering in making a space for such engagement. With a base in the centre of Jogya HONF acts a communal hub for people to come together, share ideas, collaborate on projects and engage with the wider community. Cellsbutton, an annual international media art festival, is just one of their many initiatives which include an international video festival, education focus program and various other projects, which promote a direct relationship between media artists and communities.
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venzha christ
Venzha is director of HONF and also highly active as an artist.
Venzha is a pioneer of new media arts in Yogyakarta. He has explored
many forms of expression using technologies which he often creates
himself or adapts to suit his purpose. He is particularly active as
a sound artist, crossing between electronic and noise around a
conceptual framework. He has custom built many of his own
electronic/mechanical instruments which reveal the hidden layers of
sound around us. His projects include BTS station in which he was
able to access a mobile phone substation and record the mobile phone
activity in the area.
Other works include further guerrilla style tactics, for example in an attempt to bring new sound to the public and respond to the city environment he engaged in a live performance on a back of a truck as it drove around the city streets. Another projecy is ICU, in which he entered an Intensive Care Unit and used the medical technologies there to make a sound performance, including recording his body processes under sedation.
andreas siagian
Andreas is also a memeber of HONF and an independent artist. He
is also very concerned with the social possibilities of new
technology and the way it can be applied in alternative forms within
the community and the environment. He pursues a diverse practice of
moving image manipulation, sound performance and interactive
installation.
Andreas has recently participated in the ASEF Summit on Climate Change in Beijing, where he presented his work 'Nalareksa' which analyzes carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and reproduces this as sound.
Julian 'Togar' Abraham
Togar is one of the youngest and liveliest members of HONF. He is also experimenting in the area of sound performance, moving image and installation. He is also drummer in the band diSko. He is currently exploring the use of various open source software for sound and image manipulation.
cemeti art house
Cemeti Art House is the oldest contemporary art space in the city. It was initiated in 1988 as a small gallery by Mella Jaarsma and her partner Nindityo Adipurnomo. It then moved to a larger space in 1999 especially designed by the famous architect Eko Agus Prawoto. Cemeti has been leading the way in contemporary and experimental arts offering new exposures to artists and audiences alike.
In 2006 Cemeti established its artist in residence program ‘Landing Soon’ a 3 month program which runs throughout the year and targets Indonesian and Dutch artists. Cemeti has an extensive year round program and collaborates with many other organizations nationally and internationally.
mes56
Mes56 is an alternative art space established in 2002 for exhibition, workshop, creative projects, presentation, discussion and live events. It particularly focuses on lens-based practices but not exclusively and works with local and international artists. They have realized a great many projects over the years which have promoted new dialogues both within and beyond the art community.
Two recent projects of particular interest are ‘Cities without maps’ and ‘Bangun & Gembira’. ‘Cities without Maps’ Keg de Souza and Zanny Begg Invani Lela Herliana (a local activist and resident from the area) It is an alternative mapping project for an a slum area along the river code, Jogyakarta which currently does not exist in any formal map. The artists worked with local people and children to investigate their visualization and representation of the area which they live in. The project questioned the function of a map and the information that it conveys. The outputs of the project comprised of a film, a publication and a mobile cinema, the contents of which was based on discussions, workshops, drawings, film interviews and general investigations of the area.
Bangun & Gembira was a project using photography and video realized by a group of young school children in the Bantul area, where the epicenter of the 2006 earthquake occurred. It was a very personal response by the children to the area in which they live and the destruction it has witnessed.
kedai kebun forum
Kedai Kebun is a contemporary art institute established by artist Agung Kurniawan in 1996 as a platform for local and young artists. It runs 3-4 exhibitions a year, including invited projects and those selected through proposal. It is an alternative artist run space with gallery, library, performance space and restaurant. It is described as “alternative playing space”, (for artists) in the sense of having the courage to test or challenge established, strong-rooted values in art today.’
The space is very much a social space and many artists come here to meet each other and share ideas, kedai Kebun greatly contributing to the formation of networks between practitioners in Yogyakarta and wider Indonesia.
indonesia visual arts archive
IVAA - Indonesian Visual Art Archive was formerly the Cemeti Art Foundation est. 1995, but has taken on a new role and identity since 2007. IVAA is set up as a center for documentation, education, and information on contemporary visual arts in Indonesia. IVAA consists of a library, audio/visual archive, learning space and gallery. It provides access to documentation of art practices in Indonesia through catalogues, publications, photos, publicity material and also transcripts or video of presentations, workshops and lectures. The key focus of its activities is upon education and runs a program of events to promote learning in the arts through various workshops, seminars, lectures and discussion groups. Artists are encouraged to register with the centre with their resume and documentation of their practices which are forming a database of the local and national art scene.
lip - lembaga indonesia prancis
LIP is the French Cultural Institute of Jogyakarta. Its mission is to promote cultural exchange between France and Indonesia through various cultural events and educational programs in the city. It also highlights the cultures already present in Jogyakarta and offers a platform to bring new focus to these practices.
http://www.lipjogja.blogspot.com/
jogja gallery
Jogja gallery is a commercial space supported by the Kraton. It opened in 2006 with an overview of artists who had contributed to the Yogyakarata art scene since the 70s. The gallery presents a range of exhibitions which cover traditional, modern and contemporary arts.
taman budaya
Taman Budaya is the city’s cultural centre, ‘The window of Jogyakarta’, and has the responsibility to develop art and culture- documentation and presentation – and education for the city. It was established by the idea of Ida Bagus Mantra director general of culture in the 70s, who had observed cultural centres in other countries and was inspired to initiate one in Jogya. It was founded in 1977/78 and was initially directly government run but is now under the direction of Gadjah Mada University as an authorized operational unit of the cultural office of the Yogyakarta province. The centre includes a large gallery space, event area, screening facilities and library.
The centre is committed to promoting all forms of art through performances, festivals, dance, music, puppetry, theater, literature and fine art – including painting , sculpture, graphic art, crafts, installations, multimedia and performance art. Examples of events which it supports include the International Gamalan festival, Yogyakarta Art festival, Kethoprak – Javanese drama festival, Summer theater festival Nusarara Music festival, theater and dance.
The following information was taken from the centre's English language brochure:
Vision
Taman Budaya is a window on Yogyakarta gearing toward a prominent centre of culture nationally and internationally
Mission
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To provide space for creative processes to artistic and cultural works to express their creativity and thoughts.
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To become a laborartory for development, documentation and information promotion on art and culture
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To help improve the publics appreciation of art and culture
Responsibiltiy
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To develop art and culture
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To carry out the centres roles as a laboratory and experiment for art and the art development
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To create documentation and information promotion on art and culture
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To deal with administrative affairs of the culture office
In the current modernity with significant progresses in technology and open information Yogyakarts is now encountering crossing corresponance between the traditional and modern cultural practices. This is the underlying reality that is always considered by Taman Budaya in creating its cultural programs as part of efforts to develop art and culture.
Taman Budaya helped to establish Yogyakarta Fine Art Biennale since 1983. This is an important regular exhibition to showcase the diversity of fine arts on the peak achievement of Yogyakarta fine artists. Through this events various creative projects they have accomplished to create mutual dialogues between modernity and the past local wisdom in order to respond to the current cultural changes.
jogya national museum
This large space is based in the old campus of Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia (ASRI) and Institute Seni Indonesia (ISI) and hosts various contemporary art exhibitions, performances and participatory events. The site is a popular hangout of young artists, some of whom have their studios in the area.
