Nearly two decades later, Vivi revisits that moment by presenting works by 11 artists who once filled her art room. Over the years, each has developed a distinct artistic character and secured a place within Indonesia’s art landscape. Some have received awards, others have exhibited abroad, but all have continued to work steadily within a shifting cultural and technological environment.

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The Then and Now group exhibition at Baik Art Gallery in South Jakarta offers a rare opportunity to trace how these artists’ visions, and their choice of materials, have evolved alongside the spirit of their times. Artists who were in their early 20s then are now in their 40s, bringing with them years of experience, experimentation and reflection.

After almost two decades, Vivi has reunited the eleven artists. For those who have followed their practices over the years, the exhibition reveals a spectrum of continuity and change. Some remain firmly rooted in the approaches that first brought them attention, while others have gradually introduced new methods, materials and conceptual frameworks.

Angkie Purbandono, for instance, first drew public attention with print works created using a flatbed photo scanner equipped with a charged couple device (CCD), on which he arranged objects directly. While he continues to use this technique, his conceptual approach has shifted. Earlier works drew inspiration from everyday surroundings - at times placing raw fish directly on the scanner. In this exhibition, Angkie instead shows a fascination with Scrabble: he begins by forming words, then searches for objects that visually represent the ideas behind them, reversing his earlier process.

Agan Harahap, once known for photographic works that manipulated reality with fantasy, such as imagined encounters between Indonesia’s first president Soekarno and Marilyn Monroe, has now embraced artificial intelligence as part of his creative process. Other artists, including Ronald Apriyan, Iqi Qoror, Arkiv Vilmansa and Badruzzaman, retain their signature use of bright, striking colors. Hendra “Hehe” Harsono, meanwhile, departs from his usual palette by experimenting with monochrome works, an exploration he describes as an attempt to test whether such a shift resonates with audiences.

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