Fresh contemporary ideas

A Hardiman Radjab creation.

Once you step into the lobby of the Grand Kemang Hotel in Kemang, South Jakarta, you will be welcomed by a classic soft-top roadster in natural hues like brown, beige and cream with reddish upholstery.

A sign, placed right above the registration plate, reads “Hardiman Radjab”, which refers to the creator of the vintage auto.

Next to the car, there is a banner portraying the step-by-step production of the car, which turns out to be a “recycled” car as it was created from used materials such as drums, blackboards and components taken from damaged cars.

As you go deeper into the lobby area, you will see another of Hardiman’s quirky inventions in the form of a giant hamburger, made from an old suitcase.

The artist has been long known for his series of creative works exploring his extraordinary interpretation of old suitcases and other vintage stuff.

Harry Purwanto’s Dakon.

The 49-year-old has also participated in various exhibitions overseas, including in Japan and Spain, and is currently giving lectures at his alma mater, the Jakarta Arts Institute.

The car and the huge hamburger are just two out of dozens of art works shown during the ICAD, being held at the apartment, hotel and parking area of the Grand Kemang until June 15.

This year’s exhibition, themed “Genius”, is a collaboration of the design, art, technology, entertainment, and hospitality industries, involving 38 talented artists, from graphic designers, interior designers, architects, fashion designers, photographers, videographers and sculptors to writers and culinary experts.

“We hope that this event will spread some creative arty viruses among the public as well as inspiring young talent,” said Shelda Alni, the marketing communication officer of ICAD.

Fixielite by Gembong Wi.

As for the artists, she said that the committee selected those who have already accomplished achievements and carved their names in the local or even international art scene.

“Take [fashion designer] Oscar Lawalata. We chose him because of his consistency in turning batik and ikat [woven cloth] into fashionable items,” Shelda added.

For this year’s ICAD exhibition, instead of displaying his couture collection, Oscar, who came into the world of fashion in 1998 and earned success in 1999 at the ASEAN Young Fashion Designers Awards in Singapore, extended his imagination by bringing in a number of school chairs wrapped in colorful ikat.

Gembong Wi designed a series of fun interior products titled Fixielite by recycling bicycle wheels and turning them into colorful lamps.

Arya Pradana, well-known for his astounding video mapping creations, also comes up with an intriguing creation.

In his installation, named Cerita di Balik Kepulan Asap (The Story Behind the Billowing Fumes), he invites visitors to get into a small cabin to experience a short trip along the toll road and presents the usual view that we see if we are stuck behind a truck on the country’s toll roads.

“When dust, the cloud of traffic fumes and asphalt are your only friends, you must miss your wife and children a lot. The feeling of deep longing can be seen through your ride as you use it as a canvas on which to express your feelings,” wrote Arya.

Arya created a simple but tickling video mapping project by taking the idea of the provocative phrases written on the back of local trucks, like “New Fear The Me Is 3” (read “Nyupir Demi Istri” or Driving for the Sake of Wife) and “Naik Gratis Turun Minta Dikawin”, which roughly means “Free of charge when you get on and demand to be married when you get off”, along with drawings of curvy women in skimpy clothes.

Among the artists, award-winning Argentine architect Leticia Balacek, who currently resides in Bali, has her chance to showcase her short animated films that reflect her imagination on how she sees an es teler (ice mixed with avocado, young coconut flesh, syrup and milk) vendor and the hustle-bustle of a traditional market.

Senior graphic designer Harry Purwanto recycled used drums and frying pans, combining all materials into a giant dakon (traditional kid’s toy), adding some cushions and turning them into a couch.

“Although the size, the shape, and the function [of the recycled materials] might have changed, the expression of a fun childhood memory is still there,” wrote Harry.

— Photos by Triwik Kurniasari