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Stressful city inspires students at Jakarta 32ËC
A visitor was looking at a glass box with a rotten apple inside when Gema Septian told him it symbolized death and that the artist was trying to tell people that everyone would eventually reach the end of their respective journeys
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visitor was looking at a glass box with a rotten apple inside when Gema Septian told him it symbolized death and that the artist was trying to tell people that everyone would eventually reach the end of their respective journeys.
'The artist wanted to convey that no one is immortal,' Gema, a student volunteer at biennial visual arts exhibition Jakarta 32ËC, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Artists' initiative Ruangrupa holds the event once every two years to provide a space for university students to stage their art and hold various activities such as workshops, film screenings and performance art.
This year's event was held between Dec. 13 and 21 at Historia Food & Bar, Kedai Seni Djakarte and Gedoeng Jasindo, which are located around Fatahillah Square in Old Town, West Jakarta.
During the nine-day exhibition, 47 students shared their views on the capital city through visual art.
Andang Kelana, director of the exhibition, said the event organizer tried a different approach this year by presenting the works of students who participated in art workshops taught by experienced artists. The workshop topics covered a wide range of visual arts: video, architecture, photography, digital art, found objects, comics, performance art, public space visual arts, drawing and art merchandise.
'In the past, Jakarta 32ËC events combined works from artists and students, but now as you can see the artwork produced by workshop participants as well,' Andang said.
He added that this year's event marked the first time it was held in the Old Town area since it began in 2004.
Andang said he hoped the historical area could inspire the artists and attract a wider variety of visitors than in previous years when the event was held at the National Gallery.
'There are a lot of issues that can be raised in the Old Town. Let the setting fuel the artists' creative minds,' Andang said.
One of the exhibited works was a black T-shirt bearing the cartoon of an Instagram account of a headless man taking a selfie with the caption 'A ghost taking a selfie before he goes home to the cemetery' symbolizing people's habit of taking pictures of themselves to post on their social media accounts.
Next to the T-shirt were a number of wooden clocks hanging on a wall with various pictures comparing Jakarta to (Dufan) Fantasy World in Ancol, a well-known amusement park in North Jakarta; local three-wheeled taxis bajaj; and an empty wallet with a caption that read 'Stingy Jakarta'.
'The clocks were made from used wood because the artist wanted to show people that anything can be modified to boost its functions and eventually increase its value. It's a good tip for people on how to survive in this city,' Gema said.
Ridwan Raorao, a visitor at the exhibition, said that he enjoyed the visual art as the pieces conveyed how university students in Jakarta felt about this city and expressed the feelings of by long-time residents.
'The students tried to share their views on Jakarta and showed how well they know the environment they are living in,' Ridwan said.
'However, I hope that in the next exhibition the artists explain their work better because some visitors didn't understand the pieces'.
