Fluorescent: A display of several clutches from fashion designer Tommy Byo’s “Byo” collection. (JP/Medina Rahma Putri)

An ongoing exhibition is seeking to promote the idea that despite Indonesia’s complexities as a nation, with its diverse cultures and ethnicities, there is always a way to unite through artistic collaboration.

The exhibition, KARYA KITA (Our Works), is currently taking place at the Senayan City mall in Jakarta from Aug. 17 to 25 under the theme “Mosaic of Diversity”, which is based on the spirit of Indonesia’s national motto, “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity).

While the exhibition only shows a small portion of Indonesia’s diverse cultures, it manages to feature artworks that represent the various artistic expressions coming from different artists across the archipelagic nation.

The collaborating artists for the exhibition include artists from independent art platform ART DEPT ID, accessory designer Rinaldy A. Yunardi, Sejauh Mata Memandang fashion brand founder and creative director Chitra Subiyakto, illustrator Eko Bintang, fashion stylist collective Kolek’s Veronica Arviana and Jeffry Lamin Widjaja and fashion photographer Ryan Tandya.

Despite their different industries and backgrounds, all of the artists share the same aspiration to support Indonesia’s creative industry, according to exhibition director Felix Tjahyadi.

Celebrating Independence Day: Designers, curators, illustrators, and members of the creative community collaborates to present the KARYA KITA exhibition. (Photo courtesy of KARYA KITA)

“We are all different but we are one. We are making our contribution to Indonesia,” Felix said.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is a series of multicolored panels that represent diversity, and around it are areas designated for the collaborating artists and collectives to display their wide array of artworks.

The area for ART DEPT ID artists, for instance, features works from fashion designer Tommy Byo and glass installation artist Patricia Untario. Other items curated by the platform include merchandise, such as stationary, that visitors can purchase.

“ART DEPT ID is driven to find a way that makes art accessible for all generations,” ART DEPT ID founder Amalia Wirjono said.

The artworks from the collaborating artists also feature different stories and narrations on various social issues. By doing so, the artists want to inspire visitors to take part in the creative industry as a way to express themselves and become more socially conscious.

Versatility: Sejauh Mata Memandang, known for their passion and love for Indonesia’s textile, displayed several of its multifunctional cloths, scarves and shawls. (JP/Medina Rahma Putri)

For example, Sejauh Mata Memandang features one of its collections called Laut Kita (Our Ocean) that tries to address the surging plastic pollution in the oceans.

Other than displaying collections of Indonesian textiles, the wondrous yet alarming Sejauh Mata Memandang exhibit depicts plastic bottles polluting the ocean and harming marine life. Furthermore, the display campaigns for both the motivation to create and to consider the sustainability of the environment.

“As a local brand, Sejauh Mata Memandang also shares the responsibility for changing consumerism. I believe that exhibitions can educate. I hope that this collaboration can bring positive impacts for environmental sustainability,” Chitra said.

Meanwhile, another collaborator, Rinaldy, exhibits his accessory pieces that have been exported to the international market. One of his artworks at the exhibition features loops of red and white ribbons, the colors of the Indonesian flag.

“Art doesn’t need much explanation, you can get an understanding of what it means by seeing it. You see in this work what seems like red and white ribbons. What you can understand is that a ribbon is used to tie, to bring us all together as Indonesians,” Rinaldy said. (hdt)

— The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post