A new sculpture exhibition explores ideas of relationships and the human spirit.

Twelve independent sculptors are presenting their interpretationsspirit of interaction" at the Erasmus Huis cultural center in South Jakarta.

The exhibition, opened on Wednesday by the Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister, Maxime Verhagen, celebrates the recent renovations to the Erasmus Huis grounds while giving the public an opportunity to see the changes.

"The theme of the exhibition, which isof Interaction' can be widely translated and the participating artists have complete freedom to interpret," said sculptor and exhibition curator Dolorosa Sinaga.

The participating artists are Anusapati, Ade Arti, Amalia Radjab, Awan Simatupang, Abdi Setiawan, AB Soetikno, Budi Santoso, Hardiman Radjab, Innes Indreswari Soekanto, Taufan AP, Titarubi and Yani Maryani.

The artists are all independent sculptors, each carefully handpicked for the exhibition.

"They are of different ages with a proven track record in their work and exhibitions," Dolorosa said. "These artists are to represent the re-emergence of spirit that is found in hope, work, creativity and, basically, every aspect of life."

The exhibition features both indoor and outdoor pieces.

Awan's contribution includes an installation called "Vertical" (2008), made from bamboo, wood, earth and grass. Soetikno adopted "rising" (kebangkitan) as the theme of his three artworks, titled(Pile), "Pause" andall made from iron.

Amalia Radjab, whose chosen theme is "Finding a new world", also has three works in the exhibition: "rrrggh" and "Back to the Earth", in mixed media, and "Learn tomade using papier m*ch*.

An outdoor piece calleddance"inspired by the spirit of figures dancing with joy and happiness, freeing themselves from boredom and loneliness - is offered by Taufan, who uses iron and fiberglass as his medium.

A line of suitcases called "Long journey" by Hardiman depicts a long journey with no end. His other work, "Just cakes", comprises images of cakes made from pieces of suitcases.

Yani Maryani displays four of her works: two outdoor structures,and "Great Wind" (Angin Raya), and two indoor pieces, "Mandala Bayu" and "Soul of Emerald".

"Suwuk is a Javanese word that meansYani said in explanation. "*Suwuk' talks about the many crossroads between culture and tradition."

This piece employs used molds with different images.

"In short I would like to express that there is both difference and similarity, but there is also something to be emphasized, which is mutual understanding and appreciation in life and living," she said.

Innes Indreswari Soekanto's contribution focuses on women as a general theme, which she connects to the global theme of interaction.

She exhibits an outdoor piece called "Pin", a monumental structure that stands almost 3 meters tall, made of banana stem fiber and covered with a red metal jacket. a banana tree grows, it can give only one batch of fruit then it dies, to be replaced by its children who always grow near their *mother'," Innes said.

"This is similar to what happens in a woman's life. Therefore, if women are always treated as second- or third-class citizens, who are easily swayed and only positioned as part of the scenery, then this nation and state will never move forward. For women are the pillars of a nation."

She also displays an indoor piece, "My Son=My Sun". The piece -a finalist in the 9th Oita Asian International Sculpture Competition in Japan last year - uses brass casting and wood as its media.

This artwork appears as a baby or a face, depending on which angle it is viewed from. What makes it particularly interesting is that viewers can touch and rotate the brass figure, which moves like a baby in the mother's womb.

Dolorosa said she hoped the exhibition would travel to the Netherlands later in the year, and finish in Bali.

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