Victory – Napoleon by Mochtar Sarman (Courtesy of Art Moments Jakarta 2020)

Returning to Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City, Art Moments Jakarta will be held from April 17 to 19, with at least 50 confirmed participating galleries as of Feb. 11 and occupying a larger space than last year’s iteration. Members of the public will be able to attend the fair on April 18 and 19, as the opening day is invitation only.

Founder and fair director Leo Silitonga said he was confident the event would be a success, noting that Art Moments Jakarta relied more on the Indonesian market of collectors, whereas Art Basel and Art Central’s reliance on Chinese and international buyers meant they were hampered by travel restrictions.

With a target of 20,000 visitors over the three-day event, he expressed optimism the outbreak would not be a major issue, explaining that last year’s Art Moments Jakarta grappled with the 2019 presidential elections as well as the cancelation of Art Stage Singapore just nine days before its opening.

“Maybe the mood is a bit downcast with the recent troubling issues, but we hope that things will pick up after February and people will start traveling again,” Leo said.

For 2020, Art Moments Jakarta will take up the theme Yesterday Since Tomorrow, which artistic director Khai Hori said referred to a sense of time travel. The phrase means the present day.

“I created the slogan by thinking about moments. Every moment we have should be utilized, and I want everyone who attends to see art in its entirety. From street art to modern art, they can all see different moments in art history, hence the time travel theme,” he said.

Most of the participating galleries will be a balance of both modern and contemporary art, something Leo said would attract a wider audience.

“However, we won’t segregate the two, as we want visitors to be able to see all of the artworks inside the halls. If we were to split the halls by type, some people might not visit a particular hall because they felt it was not their cup of tea.”

Highlighted galleries at Art Moments Jakartawill include Tokyo-based gallery Whitestone Gallery, which will exhibit the works of prominent Japanese artists like Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara and artists of the Gutai group alongside other Japanese contemporary artists.

Meet the press: Organizers of the 2020 Art Moments Jakarta announce that the fair will return for its second edition in April at Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City in South Jakarta. (Courtesy of Art Moments Jakarta 2020)

Kuala Lumpur’s Aureo Gallery will exhibit the works of South Korean artist Kim Il Tae, the first and only artist to paint with 24k gold on canvas. Kim’s works have been collected by numerous figures, including Prince Michael of Kent, Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and South Korean rapper PSY.

From West Java, Bandung-based ArtSociates will bring modern Indonesian artworks by Gregorius Sidharta, whose works will be contrasted with contemporary pieces created by younger artists like Mujahidin Nurahman, Erwin Windu Pranata, Gabriel Aries Setiadi and Rendi Raka Pramoedya.

Leo also said one particular artist who would be highlighted at the fair would be Mochtar Sarman, who will present a series of paintings titled Victory. The series comprises painting of famous leaders from history like Napoleon Bonaparte and Alexander The Great, and features Mochtar’s signature element of details that can only be seen with the use of 3D glasses.

However, some changes have occurred in the lineup of the artworks. In an earlier interview with The Jakarta Post, Leo said that an interactive sculpture by Nyoman Nuarta of Garuda Wisnu Kencana fame would be one of the main artworks featured at Art Moments Jakarta.

However, information on the sculpture, which was said to feature video mapping technology, was absent during the press conference.

When asked about the statue, Leo said the weight of the installation was so massive that the hotel management was worried the structural support for the proposed display area would not be strong enough.

“The problem was only discovered within the last month or so, and we weren’t able to weigh the sculpture beforehand. A presentation of Nyoman’s works will still be displayed, but it will not be that massive sculpture,” he said, adding that the option to display the sculpture outside was considered but ultimately abandoned as he felt the location would not be a good fit.

Gold: A painting by South Korean artist Kim Il Tae, who will be one of the leading artists brought in for the upcoming Art Moments Jakarta in April. (Courtesy of faithartgallery.net)

Aside from the art, highlights at Art Moments Jakarta include several programs.

The Intimate Moments program will allow guests to meet privately with artists in a hotel room to discuss their works, or even perform. Indonesian performance artist Arahmaiani will perform one of her pieces in a room for a private audience, although details have yet to be announced.

Discussions at Art Moments Jakarta will be dubbed Converse Moments, and Hori said he wanted the concept to be casual and cozy with a nongkrong (hanging out) atmosphere.

“We also wanted to invite professionals who come not only from the arts, but from other fields like digital marketing. There will be a session on how artists can create their own personal brand and the role of digital marketing in the arts scene.”

Filmmakers will also take part in Converse Moments, with one name announced being director Angga Dwimas Sasongko, who will talk about movies as a form of art and the social messages contained in them.

A discussion on sexuality in sports and art will be joined by Sophia Hage, a doctor specializing in sports and an activist with sexual violence survivors’ support group Lentera Sintas Indonesia.

In Prized Moments, five artists under 30 years of age will receive a Ribbon of Excellence, denoting a must-see artwork by artists favored by the judging panel, composed of Hori, Pakuwon Group president commissioner and art collector Alexander Tedja, Pasar Seni Ancol art market’s director and curator Mia Maria and art collector Rudi Lazuardi.

Maker Moments will allow visitors to participate in two art-related workshops, one being a demonstration of an art conservation with Monica Gunawan of the Art Restauro Laboratory and the other a workshop on sneaker customization with Jakarta Sneaker Day.

The collaboration with Jakarta Sneaker Day, the premier destination for the capital’s sneaker heads, is part of Art Moments Jakarta’s push to attract a millennial audience. The fair will also have a presence at Jakarta Sneaker Day, to be held on March 26 to 29 at Senayan City mall. (ste)