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Jakpost guide to private museums
Visiting museums is not only educational but can also be fun, as proven by the experiences offered by privately owned museums around Jakarta in the following list.
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Yayoi Kusama works at Museum Macan in August in Jakarta. (JP/Liza Yosephine)
W
hether you're looking for activities to do on a weekend or after work, these museums will provide an extra stroke of color to what would otherwise be a dull day.
1. Museum MACAN
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum Macan) in West Jakarta is currently one of the most-talked about museums in the Indonesian capital, and for good reason.
The spacious galleries of Museum Macan are currently exhibiting the legendary works of Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, exposing the artist’s exploration during her creative period from the 1950s until now.
However, visitors must be quick, as the "Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow" exhibition is drawing to a close, officially ending on Sept. 9 after being opened on May 12.
According to Museum Macan's communications officer, Nina Hidayat, the museum already has the next exhibition lined up, which is set to be announced in late August before being launched in November.
"We'll be closed in between those times because we will need to rebuild the entire space to suit the next exhibition," Nina told The Jakarta Post during a tour of the museum recently.
For now, the polka dot-dominated universe created by Yayoi Kusama welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with lines to installations inside the exhibition closing at 7 p.m. Tickets to the museum cost Rp 100,000 (US$6.83) for adults, Rp 90,000 for students/senior citizens and Rp 80,000 for children. Children under 2 years of age enter for free.
Read also: Seven tips on how to enjoy Museum Macan
Upon entering the museum, guests are greeted by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows framing Kusama's Dots Obsessions artwork. This welcoming space also hosts the Dots Obsession - Infinity Mirrored Room, which is the first of five large-scale installations found across the exhibition.
With a focus on education, Museum Macan also sponsors state school field trips, ranging from primary school to high school student groups. Additionally, all guests are also welcomed in its interactive workshop room to learn about art.
To encourage art interactions, the museum also hosts a number of special events and competitions that they announce on its website and social media.
Address: AKR Tower Level MM, Jl. Panjang No. 5, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta
Contact: +62 21 2212 1888
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. All lines for installations inside the exhibition close at 7 p.m.
2. Art:1 New Museum
Located in Central Jakarta is Art:1 New Museum, a minimalist space hosting artworks by both local and international artists. Art:1 hosts two categories of spaces – a museum gallery, which displays a private collection of artworks, as well as an exhibition gallery, which hosts various exhibitions of featured artists for a designated period.
Currently, the museum is hosting a solo exhibition by Japanese contemporary artist Osamu Watanabe titled "Museum Cake", which will run until Aug. 26. Multicolored cake-like sculptures display a range of characters, from sweet characters of cats, rabbits and the mythical unicorn, to mysterious interpretations inspired by skulls.
Read also: Top 10 most visited museums in the world
Meanwhile, the museum section hosts artworks reflecting on Indonesia's cultural heritage and landscape in forms ranging from oil paintings to sculptures.
Entrance to the museum costs Rp 150,000 for foreigners, Rp 100,000 for general entry, Rp 75,000 for students and Rp 50,000 for children under 12.
In addition to hosting art exhibitions, the museum is also available for private functions, making its artistic spaces a unique venue for events.
Address: Jl. Rajawali Selatan Raya, Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta
Contact: +62 21 647 00168, +62 21 647 00158
Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. Museum di Tengah Kebun
Built on a 4,200-square-meter plot of land, Museum di Tengah Kebun (Museum in the Middle of a Garden) stands in the middle of a vast garden of a home tucked in Jl. Kemang Timur in South Jakarta.
Owner Syahrial Djalil did not intend his home to be a museum when he built it in the late 1980's, but after amassing a collection of over 1,700 items spread across 17 rooms throughout the property, it was eventually opened as a museum to the public in 2009.
The items on display include archaeological artifacts from across Indonesia, as well as abroad, such as from France, England, China, Japan and Mexico. Among the collection is silverware and ceramics from Asia, Mediterranean antiquities, 19th century furniture and bronze statues from Europe and America.
Read also: Explore a different side of Indonesia in these museums
The museum today is only open on Saturday and Sunday, whereas prearranged groups consisting a minimum of seven people and a maximum of 15 people can tour the grounds for two hours, with appointment slots from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m to 3 p.m. (kes)
Address: Jl. Kemang Timur No.66, RT.7/RW.3, Bangka, Mampang Prpt., South Jakarta, 12730.
Contact: +62 21 7196907.
Operating hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment only.
