Vision and Mission

Rumah Seni Yaitu:


Founded by Tubagus P. Svarajati on August 19th, 2005. The main objective of Rumah Seni Yaitu (RSY) is to function as a forum to bridge and explore visual art in its cultural linkage.

Focussing on multifaset visualities, never ending exploration and consistent cooperation (local, regional, and international) in regard to the art-world (personals, organisations, independent artists, or artists communities) with egalitairy relationship and in moderate way.

The ideal location in the city center of Semarang enables RSY to play a significant role in generating multidiciplinary art activities and forming a new inclusive art community. Further on, it is expected to be a channel or noveaux art artifact asset.

So far RSY has showed many art activities and signed as an excellent center of contemporary visual art in the city. We believe that gathering the ideas and works of young artists to their audiences is valuable for developing our art-world.

RSY has a stock room which shows art-works by promosing young artists. The management and the artistic team of RSY are supported by some experienced and talented young people.***

The Artist and The Poet

The Poet Afrizal Malna.

Photo: Ferintus Karbon


IT WAS Sunday afternoon, June 17th 2007, when two remarkable persons came in. They’re Entang Wiharso, one of the greatest Indonesian artists, and the wellknown poet was Afrizal Malna. They’re accompanied by Christine Cocca, the artist’ wife who is an American, Byron Good and Mary-Jo DelVecchio Good.

Byron and Mary-Jo are husband and wife. Both are professors from Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, USA. Byron is a professor of medical anthropology and Mary-Jo is a professor of social medicine. They are in Indonesia doing researches in Aceh funded by the World Bank. They make friend with Wiharso’s family since 2002. And they want to see the artist’s solo exhibition in Rumah Seni Yaitu. For Byron this is the second visit to the exhibition. He came at the opening of the exhibition on May 25th. But for Mary-Jo this is the first time to enjoy it. The visit was especially arranged for her for she was just coming from USA two days ago. She eagered to watch the whole art works. Both couples admire Wiharso’s art works very much especially the artist’s talent and energy to produce many art works.

Byron told me that he was very lucky to attend the opening night. He enjoyed the atmosphere, the artist’ performances collaborated with some art students, and local people surround the art space. He never see in other places where local people and guests can join together to enjoy an art exhibition. Indeed the night was very special attended by many national art lovers such as Dr Oei Hong Djien, Dr Melani Setiawan, Teguh Wibisana, Simon Tan, Chris Dharmawan, and some more.

Mary-Jo thought that the exhibition was amazing. She enjoyed all the wonderful works in the space. Stressing this, in one conversation with me and the artist, she still wondered why such artist can produce many art works, which most of them are excelent ones, and from what thing he gets the energy to create them. “No artists in the world do the same like him,” she claimed.

Yes, many art lovers will say and agree to Mary-Jo. But there are some who do not agree with. An Indonesian leading critic said, in the discussion session accompanying the exhibition, that Wiharso’s works are merely imitating some other artists’ styles. This argument boosted the audiences. How come an artist who gets many admirations from the world art-scene is just a copy-paste one? Some people said that nowadays it is not important to discuss the appearences without searching the meaning of the works themselves. Then, some days after the discussion, another senior art critic and also a lecturer in Indonesian Arts Institute wrote in the leading paper Kompas that the critic mentioned above was only doing things with his own shoes.

Well, it is time for people freely to see anything with their own perspectives. The same thing happened when discussing the art works. So nowadays arts have their multifacets point of views depending on what shape they are to be examined. These are, at least, what the poet Afrizal Malna said in the terrace that night.

You know, the Sunday visit last about at 7pm. Before leaving Semarang to Yogyakarta, the artist and the poet gave their talks to some young local artists and art students. And above all, I want you to know one person who was very kind to join the visit, that is Mr Hendro Wasito. This gentlement is the artist’ friend and also an art lover. He is the guy behind the scene of the “Intoxic” exhibition. And, I believe, he is going to be one important person in the city art-scene in the upcoming time. I thank him for all the help.***

A Short History of Why

Entang Wiharso's art work.
Photo by Ferintus Karbon.


EVERYBODY, whom at the first time hear the name of the art space I'm handling in, will always ask "Why do you name your art space with Rumah Seni Yaitu?". The second question is "What does it mean?" In Bahasa, "yaitu" is only a particle. It does not have existed meaning if not set with other word(s). Simply in English, "yaitu" similar to "that is". So the "Rumah Seni Yaitu" can be translate into "Art House Is". As a name for a location refers to an art space the name "Rumah Seni Yaitu" has not finished yet in its meaning. It does not have a fully meaning indeed. But that's what I truly want to name the space!

First, I want to interpelate myself to what I thought about "what does an art space truly mean" and to "what I'm going to do with the space I built". In this case I should always think and think and fulfill the space with many usefull activities. Such activities not only should be interested, but also have theirs intrinsic values. At least, activities executed in the art house will give benefits to its audience. For these reasons, frankly speaking, the name "Rumah Seni Yaitu" has its honest role: it does not reached its shapes yet! And you could also describe it with your own thougts.

Second, the name is intended to disconstruc the other art houses allready existed in Indonesia. Why do art houses should be constructed. What they do to make contributions to the art-world so far. What are theirs roles in the future. What excitements can they give to the owners. And many many questions are blown in my head.

Now Rumah Seni Yaitu is almost two years old, next August. I must ask myself, so far how long it's been walking through? Does it make me happy? Do anybody or institutions give their generous attentions?

Can you follow me?***

Apa kabar?

Photography: Tubagus P. Svarajati


Hi!

This is a very begining. It's a starting point to introduce Rumah Seni Yaitu to public to be known and easily greeted by you, the art-lovers. And this is also the right time for us to know better each other in this room.

This blog is still under construction. Of course its interface cannot be constructed fastly and has its interesting looking in just a single night. I do hope that you will be patient to share with. Anytime you drop by please leave your comments here. Who knows your words will enlight other people.

Thank you. GBU.***