Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Intimate Distance

We recently attended a show at the Galeri Nasional Indonesia, called Intimate Distance, Indonesian Women Artists. The opening event launched a new book entitled “Indonesian Women Artists: The Curtain Opens”, featuring over 30 contemporary Indonesian female artists. The work ranged from mediocre abstract sculpture and living room art, to highly conceptual and feminist works. Considering that Indonesia is a conservative, patriarchal Muslim society, we felt that the show was socially significant. Even within Indonesia’s small world of “high” art, women artists are rarely seen. Several artists here are obviously rich housewives, but their money helps fuel the art economy and supports younger artists. More power to them… anything to help make art accessible.

Here are a few shots of pieces we liked…


VideoBabes: Ariani Darmawan/ Prilla Tania, Orchestration, 2007

Melati Suryodarmo, Illumination, 2007

This was one of my favorites, but I don't know the artists name.

Interior view of passports above. Those are smashed mosquitoes.

Astari Rasjid, Horas, 2007

Tiarma D. Sirait, Love Me, 2007