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ICAD to bring ‘Java Blues’ to Superdesign Show 2018 in Milan

Indonesian Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD) by design firm Artura is set to be the only Indonesian representative at Superdesign Show, a part of Milan Design Week 2018.

Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, April 10, 2018

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ICAD to bring ‘Java Blues’ to Superdesign Show 2018 in Milan 'Batik Jawa' by Nita Kenzo of Galeri Batik Jawa. Nita seeks to preserve the endangered technique of naturally producing indigo Javanese batik. (ICAD/File)

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ndonesian Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD) by design firm Artura is set to be the only Indonesian representative at Superdesign Show, a part of Milan Design Week 2018.

Slated for April 17 to 22, the event will take place at Superstudio Piu, Tortona, Italy.

The Artura team has carefully curated art and craft works from six Indonesian artists and craftspersons active in the contemporary art and design scene, to be presented under the theme "Java Blues". Inspired by Java, the most populated island in Indonesia, the art and craft pieces feature common, everyday materials, including brass, copper, mix-media ornaments, wax textiles, ceramic items, woodcut artworks and gold jewelry. All items were designed following contemporary perspectives and styles.

'Sri Rejeki' (2018) by Ucup Baik was made using a woodcut technique, and emphasizes the importance of counting ones blessings and being thankful.
'Sri Rejeki' (2018) by Ucup Baik was made using a woodcut technique, and emphasizes the importance of counting ones blessings and being thankful. (ICAD/File)

Diana Nazir, the initiator of ICAD, said the Superdesign Show fit with ICAD’s character.

“ICAD is more into design and art, while Superdesign Show is more about fashion and jewelry,” said Diana during a press conference on Monday, April 9, in Kemang, South Jakarta. “We’ll be in the Gallery section as part of the 'New Borders of Design' category.”

“Actually, for Europeans, ‘blues’ is often associated with melancholy or sadness,” said Amanda, one of the curators. “But we can offer a more positive understanding – a good relationship between humans, nature and God.”

Read also: Artists take on facets of purity at ICAD 2017

Visitors to Java Blues can admire naturally dyed Javanese batik cloth, as well as a gunungan decoration. The latter is usually seen as part of wayang (Javanese shadow puppet) performances, marking the beginning and ending of the show. Depicting images of animals and forest dwellers, the gunungan is made of brass, giving it a more contemporary appearance than the classic leather versions.

'Parang' tableware set by Jenggala.
'Parang' tableware set by Jenggala. (ICAD/File)

Other collections featured as part of Java Blues include a woodcut titled Sri Rejeki that portrays abundance, a batik-inspired Parang tableware set by Jenggala Ceramic, a mix-media sculpture titled Tumbuh (grow) that combines ceramic and resin and gold jewelry by Tulola.

Itjuk, another curator from ICAD, said the selected works would be arranged to convey a story.

“The challenge is, we don't know what their [the public’s] expectations are, and whether or not what we will bring will be what they expect,” Itjuk said.

The Superdesign Show exhibition is first event in ICAD's annual exhibition schedule. The second, Kisah?, is planned to be held in November. (mut)

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