This year, CGartspace celebrates its 12th anniversary as an art space at Plaza Indonesia.

When owner Christiana Gouw started her gallery, she was the first to see the potential of a mall as a place for the gallery to reach out. Plaza Indonesia was a natural choice, easily accessible for both the general public and the hotel guests at the Grand Hyatt hotel, to which the mall is physically connected.

Initially located in a small lot, she soon moved to a larger and more strategic place in the mall, showcasing ever younger and more talented Indonesian artists, and focusing on contemporary works accessible to a public yet to become familiar with contemporary art.

Today, CGartspace is a welcoming art space, an asset to the mall that now enjoys yet another group of visitors, with the frequenting of art lovers, artists and collectors.

To celebrate 12 years of existence, CGartspace has organized an exhibition of the works of more than 30 artists.

Because of the sheer number of art works, the exhibition is being held in two parts, the first from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, and the second to be opened on Feb. 10.

The exhibitions present a variety of artists and mediums, from the upcoming and emerging to the well-established, using paintings, watercolors, objects and sculptures. There is something for everyone.

Art aficionados may be familiar with works by Agus Suwage, Rudi Mantofani, Eddie Hara, Handiwirman Saputra, Teguh Ostenrik and Ugo Untoro, and newcomers will share their fascination when appreciating the genius of these artists at this exhibition.

The show presents an artistic exploration of well-known artists. Yuli Prayitno, for instance whose precise, simple but very sophisticated little sculptures used to fascinate, now puts the sculptural into paintings.

Featuring a half-open umbrella set against an elongated matchstick, What's the Point shows the same finesse as his sculptural creations.

There is Budi Kustarto, who used to be known for his super-realistic sculptures, but now shows he is well versed in watercolors too.

Made Wiguna Valasara, whose spectacular installation at the Taman Budaya venue of the Jogja Biennale X caught the attention, this time amazes by his colorless or "white" dacron paintings on canvas, while also making use of threads.

Tribute to Agus Suwage features a large white pig, while another work is titled White Texture from Black Image.

Surely one can't miss the work by Yogie Ginanjar, a painting titled New Chiaroscuro in the Three Graces.

Chiaroscuro - the Italian term used in art to indicate the contrast between light and dark - is taken by Yogie Ginanjar in a reversal of use to reveal current urban culture, with a hedonistic prevalence particularly seen in nightclubs and discos.

In contrast to the lighting in the old masters' paintings that was to evoke the religious and the spiritual in the painting, Yogie puts the light on certain patrons of a nightclub who have been participating in the joy and pleasure evoked by the atmosphere of music and dim lighting.

A sense of today's urban culture can also be seen in Bestrizal Besta's work, playfully featuring the mouse as a metaphor of our daily computer activities.

In a previous exhibition at the same venue, Bestrizal "described" the hype of contemporary lifestyles.

Other artists include Agus Sumiantara with a portrait of Gerhard Richter; Ali Rubin; Arief Tousiga; Beatrix Hendriani Kasware; Benny Messa; Chandra Johan; Christina Natalia; Ciinanti Astria Johansyah; Dodit Artawan; Farhan Siki; Ilhmasyah Mandong; Leonardiansyah Allenda; Ketut Moniarta; Octora; Radi Arwinda; Reggie Aquara; Remandhia Mulcki; Rudi St. Darma; Syaiful Aulia Garibaldi; Wastuwidayawan Paramaputra; and Yusuf Ismail.

As CGartspace continues on its way, bringing both established and emerging artists to the fore, it is fulfilling a role in contemporary art education that the public is receiving for free.

Almost White Cube

Gallery Anniversary joint exhibition
CGartspace, Plaza Indonesia, 3rd Fl. No. E16
Jl. Thamrin Kav 28-30, Jakarta 10350
Part I: Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, 2010
Part II: Feb. 10-22, 2010

Popular

Is Indonesia really ready to embrace dual citizenship?

Palm oil plantation-less mills lead to increase deforestation

Prabowo inaugurates construction of Majapahit palace replica