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ARTJOG attracts renowned international collectors
Now past its infancy and into its teenage years, Yogyakarta's ARTJOG fair must be increasingly conscious of its brand.
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Art installation by Kexin Zhang (JP/Richard Horstman)
Y
ogyakarta’s vibrant art fair ARTJOG is currently being held for the 11th time. Themed "Enlightenment" and open from May 4 to June 4 at the Jogja National Museum, this year's event presents more than 100 works by 54 national and foreign artists.
Since its inception in 2008, ARTJOG has grown to present Indonesian contemporary art to a global audience, while being the prime event on the national art scene.
The event continues to grow in stature, attracting more and more national and international attendees, while improving the quality of its presentation and artwork. ARTJOG’s educational programs, the Curators Tours and Meet the Artist, are annual highlights, reaching new levels of popularity each year.
ARTJOG has had a successful first decade -- an important test of time. Now past its infancy and into its teenage years, the event’s brand consciousness becomes increasingly essential.
“It is not only the event publications and marketing that are important in the promotion of ARTJOG, but also the fair’s content. And this is the most challenging aspect,” said ARTJOG director Heri Pemad when asked how ARTJOG could evolve, becoming increasingly vital and important during the coming decade.
“The strength of the ARTJOG exhibition themes, which highlight topics of discussion we wish to raise, is increasingly essential to attract top-class Indonesian and international artists, along with public attention. We need to continually focus on issues that are globally relevant,” Heri stated.
Read also: ARTJOG 2018 kicks off with new, fresh look
This year, the event has attracted important international collectors, including the Filipino husband and wife duo Lito and Kim Camacho, who made their first visit to Central Java to attend ARTJOG and other events held in the region as a part of the Jogja Art Weeks (JAW) program.
“We are astonished by both the city of Yogyakarta and ARTJOG,” said Kim Camacho, who, along with Lito, has accumulated one of the most impressive private art collections in the Southeast Asian region.
Influential and visionary, they are renowned as prolific collectors, with a unique eye for quality, identifying artists and works before they gain popularity.
The Camacho’s first collected Gutai pieces, an influential Japanese post-war contemporary art movement, well before they became recognized, and were quick to pay special attention to Yayoi Kusama. They began buying art in 1980, and their collection, which started with Filipino genre art, then grew to include Filipino masters and other Southeast Asian art. It has since evolved into a truly international assortment.
“Collecting art in the Philippines is a much older tradition than in other Southeast Asian countries,” said Lito, who was quoted as saying that he and his wife preferred artists of global importance that had a place in art history.
“Given that it is an artist-based event, ARTJOG is incredibly well organized, featuring excellent presentation, along with artworks of high quality,” Kim said. “We are amazed by the number of artists and art communities that have thrived in Yogyakarta and the standard of exhibitions we have visited during the Jogja Art Weeks program.
Read also: ARTJOG: Fashion show a reminder of golden age of natural dye
“Attracting important international collectors adds credibility to the ARTJOG brand,” Heri stated. “It's not only proof of our success, but we need them to help promote our brand to a larger audience, and to entice more collectors from other countries to attend ARTJOG. It is important that new international buyers not only collect the artworks, but also develop greater appreciation for the wealth of Indonesian art, culture and history.”
“We have purchased many pieces during our visit to Yogyakarta,” said Kim Camacho. “Works that speak to us, not just as unique Indonesian contemporary artworks, but works that are relevant within the global context."
“We were captured by the beauty of Night with Frank L. Wright at ARTJOG by Jakartan artist Patricia Untario and purchased her work. We were also very impressed with the JAW exhibition Bakaba #7 - Zaman Now by the Sakato Art Community. Outside of the event we loved the rich textural works by senior artist Aming Prayitno. We have recently collected a work by Yogyakarta artist Eddie Prabandono, and our first Indonesian purchases are works by contemporary Balinese master Made Wianta,” Kim stated, and continued, “Indonesian art is incredibly under-priced for works of such excellent quality.”
Other important collectors that attended ARTJOG include the president & CEO of Time International, Irwan Danny Mussry, Dr. Oei Hong Djien of the OHD Museum in Magelang, Haryanto Adikoesoema, the founder of Jakarta’s new international-standard museum MACAN, and Iwan Lukminto, who recently opened the new Tumurun Museum in Solo, Central Java. (kes)
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ARTJOG – Enlightenment
Opening dates: Continuing through to June 4, daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Place: Jogja National Museum, Jl. Prof. Ki Amri Yahya No. 1, Yogyakarta
