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span class="caption" style="width: 378px;">Glorious past: The entry of exhibition “Zeitgeist” at Galeri Kunstkring on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta. The building used to be known as the Bataviasche Kunstkring, built in 1914. Courtesy of King’s Foto A first-time collector’s exhibition of Indonesian contemporary art is currently on display at the Gallery Kunstkring, in an exhibition titled “Zeitgeist”.

The gallery, on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, was built in 1914 by the Dutch architect PAJ Mooijen. It was where collections from Dutch national Alexandre Regnault were periodically shown, including works by Picasso, Chagall, van Gogh and Utrillio. Alexandre was persuaded to show his collection of art by the gallery’s secretary Jeanne de Loos Haaxman.

Now in a twist of history, Indonesian collector Wiyu Wahono has taken the initiative to work with the building’s managers to display his own, as well as friend Indra Leonardi’s collections; the building has returned to its original function as a space to showcase art.

Aptly titled “Zeitgeist”, the collections of Wiyu and Indra encompass works that reveal the spirit of this time. The show consists of works in a variety of media, including video installations from Amalia Kartika, Davi Linggar, Tintin Wulia, Tromarama and Yusuf Ismail; stop-motion animation from Tromarama; sound and video installation from Agustinus Kuswidananto; digital print from Agan Harahap, Jim Allen Abel, Wimo Ambala Bayang; scannography prints from Angki Purbandono; performance art from Melati Suryodarmo; aluminum cutouts from Entang Wiharso; paintings from Agus Suwage, Ariadhitya Pramudendra, Aytjoe Christine, Entang Wiharso, Heri Dono and Nasirun; engraving from Radi Arwinda; embroidery from Erik Pauhrizi; objects from Indieguerillas and sculptures from Heri Dono.

The collections define what “new” contemporary art is all about. Interestingly enough, the latest trend of embroidery, once dominated by female artists, but now done by male artists as well, is also present among the high-tech mediums used in other works.

The term “contemporary art” was coined in the mid-1970s when the New Art Movement defied establishment and used mediums that were not mainstream. Yet, there were not many, if any, collectors at that time. This is the first time an Indonesian collector has displayed contemporary art.

The popularity of new contemporary art, as demonstrated in the current “Zeitgeist” exhibition, has risen over the last decade, as young collectors passionately scrutinize, criticize and collect the best that they can get. Wiyu and Indra belong to such a group of young collectors. It is interesting to see that although their methods of collecting may differ, both collections still share a common feature of zeitgeist, the spirit of the time.

Indieguerillas, The Cheerful hostages Sunday Brunch Club, 5 mannequins. JP/Carla BianpoenWiyu’s strategies for collecting are based on his readings of world collectors and on a search for coherence in the building of his collection. Indra said that he made his acquisitions based on emotional impulses that have been sharpened to see the different points of interest, beauty and quality in every piece of art. It is a skill he has learned during his 20 years as a professional photographer. Their collections, which are displayed in separate sections of the building, include pieces from the same artist.

The exibition was initiated to welcome Dr. Melissa Chiu, director of the Asia Society Museum in New York and senior vice president of the Society’s Global Arts and Cultural Program. Although Dr. Chiu has previously visited Indonesia many times, this was the first time she escorted collectors and patrons from the US, due to their desires to familiarise themselves with the work being done by young artists in Indonesia today. Wiyu and Indra took the opportunity to reveal and share their collection of contemporary art works to the wider public.

Although the exhibition was initially scheduled to run until 16 May, the exhibition may continue due to public demand. The exhibition is important as it reveals current trends in today’s modern contemporary art scene. The teachers of Bandung Institute of Technology’s (ITB) art department, along with other art institutions, have suggested that seminars be held for students, teachers, and anyone else interested in discussing today’s contemporary art. The suggestion is still being considered.