Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Solo Exhibition "WWW dot JAVA"

Solo Exhibition:

“WWW dot JAVA”

By Nindityo Adipurnomo

Opening:

Saturday, 20 December 2008; 07.00 PM

Opened by:

Harjanto Halim (cultural activist, Semarang)

Exhibition:

21 December 2008 - 14 February 2008

Opening time: everyday except holidays10.00 AM —17.00 PM

For Nindityo Adipurnomo this solo exhibition at the Rumah Seni Yaitu is a kind of homecoming. He was born and attended high school in Semarang. Nindityo, and his wife Mella Jaarsma who is also an artist, is widely known as founders of Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, 20 years ago.

His interest is mainly on the visualization and the cultural background of the “konde”(buns) – the various hair arrangements in the feminine beauty tradition, especially in Java and Bali. His observation is based on the (temporary) believe that there are many contents – political, cultural, religious, economic, and even gender issues (feminism as well as patriarchism) - put into buns.

Nindityo is obsessed with the ambiguity of texts, which do not have finite endings. According to Donny Danardono (lecturer at PMLP and the Faculty of Law Soegijapranata Catholic University):“Nindityo Adipurnomo’s paintings and installation works makes fun on the certainty of texts. Being playful, they certainly do not make any claim of presenting a certain truth, let’s say an emancipating truth. In short, his works are games – and therefore a postponement – of the certitude of all kinds of meanings which we find in everyday life.”

In his solo exhibition – “WWW dot JAVA” – his first in Semarang, Nindityo Adipurnomo (born in 1961) will present three installation works, three object d’art, three photographic works and three paintings. All flow into the mainstreams of culture and religion in their various visualization forms.

A post-event catalogue will be published at the end of the exhibition. It is planned that the catalogue will be launched and discussed at the closing on Saturday, 14 February 2005.

During the exhibition some side events such as lectures, discussions, and public education programmes involving the art community, students and the general public will be held.
The exhibition and related events are open for the public, free of charge.

Supported by Cemeti Art House, Prima Filateli, Margono Group, PaperOne, Illue Design College, and Calon Menantu.

Free, no admission fee.
Welcome!

Photo Exhibition "Laku Warsa"

Photo Exhibition
“LAKU WARSA”
by

Indonesian Photojournalist Association of Semarang

Opening:
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
at 7 p.m.
(followed with artists’ talk)

Exhibition:
December 11—16, 2008

Open daily except holidays:
10 am - 5 pm

Free, no admission.
Welcome!

The Indonesian Photojournalist Association of Semarang was declared at April 1, 2003. It was then followed with a photo exhibition titled “Bianglala Kota Lama Semarang” (The Rainbow of Semarang’s Old City) at Sienna Gallery during April 1—6, 2003.

And now the photo exhibition “Laku Warsa” will show at least 40 photos belong to 20 photographers who are working in several local and national medias based in Semarang. Those photos are on topics of socio-politics, art and culture, crimes, environtment issues, and sport.

There is a performance art event by some of the journalists and it will be showed before the opening ceremony. A discussion on the photo show will be held afterward.

The Pleasure of the Text

Solo Exhibition

"The Pleasure of the Text"

by

Erik Pauhrizi

Curated by:
Heru Hikayat

Opening:

Friday, October 31, 2008

at 7:00 pm

Exhibition:

November 1 - 15, 2008

Open daily except holidays:

10 am - 5 pm

Free, no admission.

Welcome!

ERIK PAUHRIZI graduated from Fine Art and Design Faculty of Bandung Institute of Technology—majoring in textile craft and minor media art, 2005. Cum Laude.

There are tens of paintings (acrylic on canvases), drawings, and digital prints in his first solo exhibition “The Pleasure of the Text”—curated by Heru Hikayat. All of his works are in black and white tone, monocromatic. Actually not of its “color” he is willing to show, but he is intending to wipe up the subject or the reference where they were firstly belonged. The origin traces, for instance faces, are blurred.

According to the curator, Pauhrizi is not trying to show his personal uniqeness through his works, instead he dives into the sea of quotations’ imagery. This is not only a signs pleasure with no end—a sign to refer another sign—but also unlimittedly exchanging the position of ”reader-author”.

Sembilan Wali & Siti Jenar

Photo Exhibition
“SEMBILAN WALI & SITI JENAR”

by
Seno Gumira Ajidarma

Opening:
Friday, October 10, 2008 at 7 p.m.

(Followed with Artist Talk session.)

Exhibition:
October 11—25, 2008

Open daily:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except holidays)

No Admission. Free.
Welcome!

Seno Gumira Ajidarma is widely known as a journalist, but he is also very famous as a novelist, film critic, and art connoisseur with his major on comics or cartoon works. He has published many books among others on literature, journalism, and photography—completed his doctoral program at University of Indonesia, 2005.

The photos in “Sembilan Wali & Siti Jenar” are accompanying his bibliography study on the legendary of Walisanga whom are believed as the first persons on proliferation of Islam in Java. Those nine Wali is completed with another legend Syekh Siti Jenar. His study and journalistic report with its photos were then published as a book at September 2007—but firstly appeared in Intisari magazine, October 2005—August 2006.

Seno differenciate between historical facts and any historic views on those nine saints. By reading his report, seemingly the readers are brought to the past but in the same time they also criticise the myth of the tombs which Seno described.

Those exhibited forty five photos could be read as a companion to the texts, as arbitrary visual stories, or only as the photographer’s interpretation on the pilgrimage artifacts he visited. But maybe those are the pilgrimage journey itself.

This exhibition is intended to show how important ideas or discourses in the photography field.

Supported by Intisari Magazine and Sampoerna Foundation.

Creativity and Global Networking

(Photo courtesy of Cemeti Art House)

Art Discussion
w/
Nindityo Adipurnomo
on “Creativity and Global Networking”

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
at 7:30 pm

No admission, free!
Welcome!

Nindityo Adipurnomo was born in Semarang. He was trained as artist (major in painting) and graduated from The Art Institute of Indonesia, Yogyakarta. He also studied at The State Academy of Fine Arts, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1986—1987). With his wife Mella Jaarsma, he founded Cemeti Art House (since 1988).

He is going to present the concept of his latest works especially the collaborative one (with Mella) “The Last Animist 2008” showed at International Sculpture Exhibition 2008 “Grandeur” which was exhibited at Sonsbeek Park, Arnhem, The Netherlands, last summer. They were among 28 international artists from around the world who took part in.

The discussion is to show how artist not only relating to his own aesthetic sense and ratio but also embracing public as part of his art works. Nindityo also will tell us how important must artists spread their international networking in the global world.

The discussion is opened for public with no admission. The management of RSY invite young artists, art-workers, journalists, and art lovers to join it.

Supported by Cemeti Art House.

Outside the Words

Painting Exhibition
“Di Luar Kata” / “Outside the Words”
by:
Acep Zamzam Noor
Sitok Srengenge

Opening:
Friday, September 5, 2008 at 5:30 pm

Officiated by:
Nugroho Suksmanto

Exhibition:
September 6—15, 2008

No admission, free.
Welcome!

ACEP ZAMZAM NOOR is a trained painter but also known as a poet. He studied visual arts in Faculty of Art and Design of Bandung Institute of Technology. Receiving fellowship for producing artworks in Italy and took part in workshops in the Philipines and Netherlands. From the year of 1980’s Acep had shown many exhibitions, solo or join events, in several cities in Indonesia and abroad.

SITOK SRENGENGE is one of 20 exceptional people in Asia choiced by Asiaweek as a leader for the millenium in society and culture. Sitok is famous as a poet or writer, has published some books, got several awards in literary, and joined with some international literary festival in the world.
In 2001 he received a Honorary Fellow International Writing Programme from University of Iowa, USA. In 2005 he got Honorary Fellow International Writing Programme from Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
In visual arts’ field Sitok ever ran The Essence Gallery. The join exhibition titled “Outside the Words” at Rumah Seni Yaitu, Semarang, is his second exhibition after the one at Millenium Gallery in 2000.
Now, along with his counterparts in Utan Kayu Community, Sitok founded Salihara Community where he works as literary, theater, and visual arts curator.

***

The Normal Chaos of Love

The Normal Chaos of Love
A Visual-Poems Exhibition
by
Elfrida Fera and Kris Budiman

Opening:
Wednesday, August 27, 2008; 7.30 PM
[there will be poetry reading and music performance]

Exhibition till:
Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Supported by:
Yayasan Umar Kayam
Prima Filateli
Gramedia Book Store
Calon Menantu
Illue Design School

Free, no admission.
Welcome!

On Landing Soon

[http://rodenberg3schepers.wordpress.com/]

On Landing Soon

Presentation and Discussion
with
Ellen Rodenberg (artist, the Netherlands)
Maarten Schepers (artist, the Netherlands)
Wimo Ambala Bayang (artist, Indonesia)
and
Nindityo Adipurnomo (artist, owner of Cemeti Art House)

Topic:
Anything on artist-in-residence “Landing Soon”,
the artists’ works and how to join it.

Tuesday, July 8-2008 at 7 pm

Free, No Admission.
Welcome!

ADVY Photo Expo C4C

Photography: Lucky Djoko

Opening:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
at 7:30 pm

Discussion:
Agus Leonardus (photographer)
Tubagus P. Svarajati (art critic)
Friday, June 20, 2008
at 7:00 pm

Exhibition: June 12—28, 2008

Open daily: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Except holidays

Free, No Admission
Welcome!

Late Edition: Direct Documentary Video Project

This project handled by Rizki Lazuardi. Some university students, and they are also grouped as films lovers, took part to the project. The participants made some, say, experimental documentary videos. They took pictures without any editing processes.

Six videos were screened to public at May 9. In general, all the videos were lack of excellent technical. I thought they miss the logic of how to present good moving images. They did not make strong pictures. The video makers only paid their attentions on the stories. In this kind of videos, which is more important: the pictures or the auditive stories?

Well, as the firstly works Rizki and friends had showed good works, anyway.

Late Edition: Book Discussion

Sigit Susanto is a friend of mine. We met and studied in a college around twenty five years ago. After graduating we never met again for (alas!) more than twenty years. Then last year he called me from his home town, Boja, where is a small town fourty kilometers south of Semarang.

For my surprised, Sigit is living in Switszerland with his wife who is a native of the country. The most surprising thing is: Sigit transforms as a travel writer with his depth intention on literature. He travelled twenty six countries so far. He pays his attentions on James Joyce, Franz Kafka, and so on. And he had written four books. His last one was titled “Menyusuri Lorong-lorong Dunia 2”. The book was published by Insist Press and it consist of 478 pages with index and glossary. In his new book Sigit telling his experiences when he traveled to Vietnam, China, Morocco, Portugal, Irlandia and Hongaria.

Sigit’s new book was lunched at Rumah Seni Yaitu at May 12. More than seventy people took part to the discussion. Donny Danardono a lecturer of Soegijapranata Catholic University gave his essay on Sigit’s book.

Late Edition: CUKS

CUKS is a short name for Cinta Untuk Kota Surabaya which meant ‘love for Surabaya city’. The title was a compilations of ten short films produced by some young film makers based in Surabaya.

Sreening time: April 17 at seven in the night. The screening at Rumah Seni Yaitu was handled by Kronikfimedia, a group af students focusing on film, the moving images.

Late Edition: CAPO

[Photo: Collection of Importal]

It was a fancy exhibition which attracted youths to come. Hundreds of young people who are mostly students enjoyed the toys displayed for ten days, April 6 to 15.

Capo is a custom toy created by Aewox Team which is the creative team of a clothing line based in Bandung, NLS. It stands for No Label Stuff. Firstly this toy arranged to be the mascot of NLS. But this toy was admired by many young artists who then changed and customed it as an art work. And finally all the works were traveled and exhibited at Yogya and Semarang.

In Semarang the toys were exhibited at Rumah Seni Yaitu. And this show was one of the most attracted exhibitions we ever made. Everyday tens of visitors came in.

Fifty four young emerging artists took part to it. This programme was handled by two young local artists, they were Rizki Lazuardi and Damar Ardi.

Words are Alive

On Militia 2007 Workshop. (Photo: Ferintus Karbon)

TIMUR Sinar Suprabana suddenly stepped forward and said, “Yes, let me read your poems.” He then grabbed the book and started to find out which poems he like to. Audience were kept quite and waiting for the show. It was Thursday night, April 3rd.

The most famous Semarang’s poet explained why he was so happy to read those poems – two poems precisely – of Aan Mansyur and Faisal Kamandobat: “I honor both of you as I deeply give my respect to Rendra who ever read my poems.” Rendra, as he said, was only ever read poems from two poet, they are of his and Sitok Srengenge’s. Rendra probably is the very most outstanding Indonesian poet and is attributed as “The Peacock”.

With his theatrical waving body, Timur, as he is called by friends, then pronounced words as if they were alive and got their maximum performances. People were hipnotised and clapped their hands at the end of the reading. No, no one here can be compared to the poet whom I know him some twenty years ago. Timur is still the best for poetry reading.

The poet came to RSY with Sitok Srengenge and Triyanto Triwikromo. The last two are poet and short stories writer. Sitok spent his youth in Semarang before then moved to Jakarta. He is the owner of Kata Kita publisher. Meanwhile TT, short name of Triyanto Triwikromo, is an editor at local newspaper. He is one of Indonesian leading short stories writers. These two writers now are often going abroad to join some literary and poetry parades.

They and the crowd were enjoying the books’ launch and discussion. Two young poets – M. Aan Mansyur from Makassar dan Faisal Kamandobat from Yogya – brought their books. Aan’s “Aku Hendak Pindah Rumah” (Nala Cipta Litera publisher) and Faisal’s “Alangkah Tolol Patung Ini” (Olongia publisher).

Those young poets explained their creative ways how to write down their poems. Faisal said that he deeply want to write using basic and pure words he could find. Observing on daily lives in Makassar then Aan expressed them into poems. Both two poets are good enough in their lirics.

The discussion was moderated by Adhitya, a journalist, from Kudus. Komunitasku, a group of young people who are concerned on theatre and literary practices, organised the event with excellent report.

Peace for Tibet!

[Photo: www.freetibet.org]

Deeply sympathy from the bottom of my heart to
the people of Tibet. May God bless your freedom.


Warm regards,
Tubagus P. Svarajati

Rethinking of Mooi Indie

Krisna Murti between his two paintings.

[Photo: Ferintus Karbon]

“I am very proud to be here, in the exhibition of one of the greatest video artist we have,” said Dr Oei Hong Djien, “Though I was very busy, but I force myself to attend this important event.” He was at Rumah Seni Yaitu and scheduled to officiated Krisna Murti’s solo exhibition Forbidden Zone, Friday, March 14.

Dr Oei, an Indonesia leading art collector with excellent reputation, then telling his witness about Semarang’s art scene. He acclaimed that art scene here has been sleeping for a along time. Eight years ago when he inaugurated a gallery Dr Oei had said the condition. But last year for his surprise he watched Entang Wiharso, a well reputable artist based in Yogyakarta, showed his solo exhibition in Semarang, precisely at Rumah Seni Yaitu. Surely now Dr Oei would change his statement to know a vigorous art practices in the city right now.

Standing before audiences, nearly one hundred art lovers, Dr Oei then spoke with cheers telling his valuable acknowledges. It was great time to have Dr Oei in a small art space I run. And I thought that was also an honor for our local art scene.

Dr Oei Hong Djien is inspecting the works.
[Photo: Ferintus Karbon]

Before Dr Oei, the artist Krisna Murti, who was growing and finishing his high school in Semarang, shared his ideas on Forbidden Zone to the attendants. Shortly he explained the idea of his works, in general he is rethinking the practices of landscape painting particularly relating to the Mooi Indie style of the Dutch East Indies school.

Krisna Murti is showing twenty paintings, five digital prints in “Glare Series” and three videos. The videos are “Airplane” (video stills, sequences, dvd loop), “Mirrorscape” (dvd loop), and “Kala-scape” (dvd loop). Airplane and Mirrorscape are showed with different views, the images were projected behind a (oneway) screen with delighted frames. People then will see as if those videos are paintings. But they are truly moving-paintings.

"Collosseum" by Krisna Murti

The very subject matters of Krina’s paintings are landscape, seascape and skyscape. Almost of all his canvasses the sky is dominant. He just want to show different perspective on landscape paradigm.

"Do not Over Take!" by Krisna Murti

According to Amanda Katherine Rath, at first glance, Krisna’s foray into the concept of landscape and images of landscape (moving and still) perhaps seems to participate in the ubiquitous eye candy that comprises much of the contemporary art in the glutted market of the international art exhibition, or Biennale-ism. But indeed the artist is questioning the bounderies between the discourses of high and low art, fine art and advertising, between high and low art. Such a supposed transgression is not in the theme or images but in the manner or way they are presented.

Discussion with the artist.

[Photo: Ferintus Karbon]

“Forbidden Zone, made this year, moves well beyond the documentary and may well be Murti’s most conceptually mixed and topically wide-ranging multi-media installation to date,” stated Iola Lenzi a curator based in Singapore.***

Philosophy Talk

Philosphy Discussion
“Space in Javanese Culture and Foucaultian”

Monday, March 17-2008 at 7 p.m.

Speakers:
Bambang Supriyadi a.k.a. Pipiek (Diponegoro University, Semarang)
Donny Danardono (Catholic University of Soegijapranata, Semarang)

Moderator:
Tjahjono Rahardjo (Catholic University of Soegijapranata, Semarang)

Bambang Supriyadi a.k.a. Pipiek will deliver his paper “To Open Javanese Space through the Analysist of Dewaruci Ancient Literature”. Pipiek ia a lecturer of Diponegoro University and now is finishing his doctoral degree at the same institution he is teaching.

Donny Danardono is a lecturer of law philosophy in Catholic University of Soegijapranata Semarang and a candidate of philosophy degree in Nijmegen University, the Netherlands. He is going to discuss his paper “Michel Foucault on Dewaruci, A Discourse of Space, Power and Ethics”. This gentleman is known as an urban culture observer.

The discussion is moderated by Tjahjono Rahardjo, a lecturer in Architecture Department, Catholic University of Soegijapranata Semarang and also known as a practicioner of Javanese gamelan music.

This event is supported by Catholic University of Soegijapranata and Diponegoro University.

The discussion is opened for public and with no admission. Welcome!

Forbidden Zone

FORBIDDEN ZONE
painting – digital print – video
by Krisna Murti
March 14—29, 2008

Opening:
March 14, 2008 at 7 p.m.

Officiated by Dr Oei Hong Djien

I suppose that the landscape in “Forbidden Zone” is only a small portrait of a cultural position, identity, or an attempt of the Indonesian people to understand todays reality. It seems that it is clearly but in fact we have yet to really discuss and understand this reality. [Krisna Murti]

In “Forbidden Zone” Krisna Murti professes to blur the boundaries between the discourses of high and low art, fine art and advertising, between high and low art. Such a supposed transgression is not in the theme or images but in the manner or way they are presented. [Amanda Khaterine Rath]

Whatever Murti’s choice of media, theme and form, his works of recent years all share a sharply-focused presentation of multi-prismic viewpoints, an interrogation of received and conventional meaning, and a keen awareness of the power of sensory evocation in the articulation of complex and possibly divisive issues. [Iola Lenzi]

Krisna Murti
Born in 1957, lives and works in Bandung/ Jakarta

Education
1976-81:
Faculty of Art and Design – Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bandung

Working Experiences
1981-82:
Assistant to Prof. Ahmad Sadali for art philosophy studies, Faculty of Art and Design, ITB, Bandung
1999:
Artist in Residence, Art Exchange Program (AEP), Fukuoka, Japan
1996:
Workshop on Asean Art, La Salle SIA College of Art – Singapore Art Council, Singapore
2002:
Founder of the first International new media art festival in Indonesia: bavf~NAF
#1 (The Bandung Video, Film and New Media Art Forum)
2002-04:
Supervision of Master of Visual Art - MVA - Candidate, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
2003-…:
Guest Lecturer of Master of Visual and Performing Arts Program (New Media Art Studies), Indonesia Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2006:
Artist in Residence, La Salle College of the Arts, Singapore

Selected Solo Exhibition
2008:
“Forbidden Zone” painting, digital print and video, Rumah Seni Yaitu (Semarang, March 14th-29th); Gaya Fusion of Senses Gallery (Ubud-Bali, April 5th-23rd) and National Gallery of Indonesia (Jakarta, April 29th-May 11th) [catalogue]
2005:
“Video Spa”, video installation, Gaya Fusion of Senses Gallery, Ubud, Bali
2004:
“Video Spa”, video installation, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta
2002:
“Wayang Machine”, video installation (5 projections), Japan Foundation, Jakarta and Centre Culturel Francais, Yogyakarta
2000:
“boo it yourSELF’” Sound/Video Installation, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta
1999:
“Foodstuffs are Ethnic, Never Racist”, video installation, Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta.
1997:
“My Ancestors are Sangiran Man”, video installation, TBS Surakarta; Lontar Gallery, Jakarta; RedPoint Studio, Bandung
1997:
“Of The Dancer: Her Neglected Sketches”, video art, Youth Theatre, Moscow
1996:
“Learning to Queue Up to The Ants”, performance video installation, Soemardja Gallery, ITB, Bandung
1993:
“12 Hours in The Life of Agung Rai, The Dancer”, video performance-photo installation, Studio R-66, Bandung

Selected Group Exhibition
2007:
“Neo-Nation”, Biennale Jogja IX, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta
2007:
“Thermocline of Art, New Asian Waves”, Centre for Art and Media ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany.
2006:
“Going Digital”, Festival Oversteek, Theater de Kikker, Utrech, the Netherlands
2006:
“Beyond”, Jakarta Biennale, Jakarta
2005:
Venice Biennale, Indonesian Pavillion, Venice, Italy
2005:
“Taboo and Transgression in Contemporary Indonesian Art”, The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, New York, USA
2005:
“Asia Video art Showing” (Avicon), Kyoto Seika University, Institute for Media Arts, Kyoto, Japan
2005:
“Xeno-Tech” (curated by Deanna Herst), Transmediale Media Art Festival, Berlin
2004 “SENI: Art and the Contemporary”, moving picture, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (Oct)
2004:
“Pathiharn Electron”, switch media, Art Museum of Chiang Mai, Thailand
2004:
“Identities vs Globalisation”, organised by Heinrich Boll Foundation, Art Museum
of Chiang Mai (Feb) and National Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand (May), and Dahlem
Museum Complex, Berlin (Sept-Oct 04)
2003:
Asia Videoart Conference (AVICON) 2003, organized by VC Tokyo, POLA Annex Museum, Ginza, Tokyo
2003:
“Interpellation”, CP Open Biennale, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta
2003:
“House”, 10 Video Artists of Indonesia , Plastic Kinetic Worms, Singapore
2003:
“TRANSIT 8 Views of Indonesia”, multicultural Indonesia new media art show in
Australia: Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville, Queensland (May-
June) and 24 HR ART, Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin
(September)
2003:
“15 Tracks: South East Asia Contemporary Art”, organized by Singapore Art
Museum, Tama University Gallery, Tokyo (July) and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum,
Fukuoka, Japan (December)
2003:
“Human Beings as Part of Nature”, 2nd Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial (Short Video
Festival), 7 cities of Echigo-Tsumari region (24 public spaces), Japan
2002:
“Spice Routes”, ifa Galerie, Stuttgart, Germany
2002-03:
“36 Ideas from Asia, Contemporary South East Asia Art" (organized by
Singapore Art Museum) in German (Duisberg), Hungary, Rupertinum Museum
of Modern Art (Salzburg-Austria), National Museum of Abruzzo (L’Aquilla, Italy)
2001:
“Unfolding Perspective ARS 01”, Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland
2001:
Osaka Triennale, Osaka, Japan
2001:
Zwischen Tradition und Moderne: Junge Kunstler aus Indonesien, Museum for Anthropology, City of Cologne and Dahlem Museum Berlin, Germany
2001:
“Awas! Recent Art from Indonesia”, Amsterdam W139, Pruess Ochs Gallery,
Berlin and Ludwig Forum for International Art, Aachen, Germany
2000:
“7th Bienalle of Havana”, Havana, Cuba
2000:
Centre National d’Art Contemporain de Marne la-Vallee – Fermee du Buisson, Paris, France
2000:
“Invisible Boundary: Metamorphosed Asian Art, Travelling Exhibition of Kwangju
Bienalle 2000”, Niigata & Utsunomiya Museum of Art, Japan
2000:
“Impakt Festival, Media Art” Utrecht, the Netherlands
2000:
“3rd Gwangju Bienalle”, South Korea
1999:
“Undabdie Post Experimental Art”, Actions Galerie & Asian Fine Arts Factory, Berlin
1999:
“First Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale”, Fukuoka-Japan
1997:
“Two Wonders”, Mikhail Abakumov and Krisna Murti, Embassy Hall, Moscow

Artist Talk/ Art Presentation
2001:
“3 Artists”, Havana Biennale, Che Guevara Hall, Casa America, Havana, Cuba
2002:
“10 Works of Krisna Murti 1993-2002”, Complejo Cultural “San Fransisco”,
Caceres-Spain, organized by Asosiacion Cultural Arte Abierto and sponsored by
Diputacion de Caceres
2003:
“10 Works of Krisna Murti 1993-2002” at Institute of Modern Art IMA and
Queensland Art College (Brisbane); Griffith University, Brisbane; Charles Darwin
University, Darwin; and James Cook University, Townsville (Australia)
2004:
Art Forum and Visiting Lecturer: “New Media Art in Indonesia” at University of
Tasmania, Hobart and Launceston, Monash University, Melbourne and
24HRART Contemporary Art, Darwin, Australia

Public Collections
Hakataza, Kabuki Theatre, Fukuoka City, Japan
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan
Art Council of Singapore/ Singapore Art Museum

Bibliography
“Apresiasi Seni Media Baru” (The Apreciation of New Media Arts), Direktorat Kesenian RI, Jakarta, 2006
“Media Baru, Kultur Gerilya hingga Seni Gadget” (The New Media, from Guerilla Culture to Gadget Art), Jakarta Biennale Catalogue, Jakarta Art Council, 2006
“Caring for Mickey, Collage Works of Krisna Murti”, exhibition catalogue, Bandung, 2001
“Video Publik”, Krisna Murti, Kanisius Publisher, Yogyakarta, 1999
“My Ancestors are Sangiran Man”, exhibition catalogue, Krisna Murti, Bandung, 1997
Writing media arts articles for Kompas newspaper, Visual Arts and Art Asia Pasific magazine

Meet Dini

Nurhayati Sri Hardini – famous as Nh. Dini – is one of Indonesia women writers who are extremely productive. She started writing since 1951 when she was a student of junior school. Penduharka was her first short story published at Kisah magazine and it got good attention from literature critic H.B. Jassin who was called as Paus Sastra Indonesia or Indonesia Literature Pope.

Nh. Dini was a Garuda Indonesia Airways’ stewardese and married with Yves Coffin, a France diplomat. They had a couple kids, Marie Claire Lintang dan Pierre Louis Padang.

After more than twenty years going abroad, among them she was staying at Japan, Cambodia, the Philipines, United States of America, the Netherlands, and France, then she at 1980 moved back to Indonesia.

Dini then built Pondok Baca Nh. Dini, a reading house. This is especially for children and it is developed well and has many branches so far.

She had written more than thirty books of novel, short stories, noveletes, and others. Among of her books the Memories Series were very popular and admired by her readers. But Nh. Dini was first known as a leading writer by La Barka (1975) and Pada Sebuah Kapal (1985). Dini also translated Albert Camus’ La Peste (1985) and Jules Verne’s Vingt Mille Lieues sous le Mers (2004) into Indonesian.

This writer gets many awards from the Indonesia government and abroad. And also she was invited to deliver her works at several countries such as Canada, South Korea, the Philipines, Thailand, and also at France where she spent a part of her life with her family.

And now Nh. Dini is pleased to see her readers at Rumah Seni Yaitu, Sunday, March 2nd, at 6:30 pm. The writer was born at Semarang in a small kampoong called Sekayu. Nh. Dini is also going to talk about her latest book titled “Argenteuil, Hidup Memisahkan Diri”.

Discussion:

Sunday, March 2-2008 at 6:30 pm

Audiences are welcome with no admission.

Entang and Farewell Paper

ONE day a SMS came and it was from Entang Wiharso, an Indonesian leading artist who is now living in Rhode Island, USA, with his wife and two sons. He was invited as an artist-in-residence at Amherst College for six months, last year. He spent his vacation in Indonesia, for around one month, and delivered a speech in a one day seminar at Jogja Biennale IX, last November.

His SMS said that he invited some friends to have a farewell dinner before he is flying to see his family in USA. Well, it should be noted as an honor to me. Then I went to Jogja and join with some friends in a clear night in a restaurant near the artist’s house.

It took almost four hours to go there from Semarang, my hometown. Karbon, a student of Fine Art Department of Semarang State University, accompanied and drived for me. This young guy is good in photography. Some of his shots were used as poster and catalogue cover for Entang’s last solo exhibition “Intoxic” at Rumah Seni Yaitu. And ofcourse Karbon is extremely pleased.

The day was Saturday, February 9th, and I met many interesting people. There were three young Jogja based curators – Sudjud Dartanto, Kuss Indarto, and Wahyudin – whom were my counterparts when I took discussions at Cemeti Art Foundation for more than three months in the year 2004. The foundation now changed into Indonesia Visual Art Archive (IVAA).

You know, Agung “Leak” Kurniawan, artist and the Director of the Foundation, once said that such discussion was a real “liar school”. He meant that because the discussions had no certain modules or any fixed programmes. They were held at night twice a week and some scholars gave their papers to the limited attendants. I was very lucky to join it. The school enlarged my mind on theories of contemporary visual arts. But I had to drive to Jogja in the morning then went home late at night. I often arrived home at dawn the next day for some discussions ended rather late. There were all hard days and cost very expensive, but I sincerely wish thank to the good friends of the Foundation.

There were some young artists, friends, and also Entang’s relatives joined the dinner. We talked and laughed all night. But in the middle we also had some serious deal, meant: we blew rumors on todays arts booming – especially paintings – and the artists’ behaviors concerning the terrible art market. Well, well, well…, no any painters are broke nowadays in Jogja. But elsewhere? Who knows.

Then we walked down to the artist’ house. I noted that Entang was exploring a new medium – paper – for his newest works. He pressed the paper in such a way so that there are hollowed images on it. As usual, his images are very strange and intriguing. The most excited news is: the artist gave me two papers! Olala....

[Hendro Wasito, a truly art lover lives at Semarang, brought the art-works to me several days after the dinner party. He did not join the dinner but visited the artist at another day. I wish my deeply thank to the gentleman.]

Karbon and I reached home at three at dawn. I insisted to go home because my son would have to take a test entering high school at ten o’clock at Sunday. What a hard day!***

On Batik Lasem, A Brief Note

It was wet, wet, and wet everyday – since the Chinese Lunar Year – at Semarang. From morning till night the rain dropped from the sky and, surely, it was cold. We never experienced this for nearly ten years or so.

But many Chinese thought that rainy days in between Chinese New Year will bring more prosperity. Sure? Yes, they do hope.

Oppositely, we were very lucky at that night, the sky was clear and we did not have rain. It was Friday night, February 15th, when there was an opening of “New Light of Batik Lasem” exhibition. This exhibition is sincerely about a presentation of a research of batik Lasem. You know, batik is a traditional hand made fabric: completely hand printed and colored.

Lasem is a small town, a seashore, and is believed where the first Chinese was landing there from the Mainland, China. This town is estimated as a living community and an important harbour at the north of Java Island since 9th century. This was one of the most three important harbour in the Majapahit Kingdom era. So the Chinese and Javanese cultures were mixed beautifully at Lasem. Chinese who then married with local residents making a new origin called ‘Tionghoa Peranakan’ (Peranakan Chinese) with their ‘budaya peranakan’ (peranakan culture).

Mr William Kwan, a Chinese origin who was born at Batang, a small town in Central Java, is making research on batik Lasem. He is the director of Indonesia Pluralism Institute. He was growing up at Semarang before moving then now living at Jakarta with his family.

Mr Kwan showed us there are many proves that Lasem is a multicultural town. There are mosques, churches, vihara, and temples are all living side by side peacefully. According to Mr Kwan there has not a depth research yet which shows when batik was firstly produced at Lasem. But local history (Babad Lasem) – in “Sabda Badra Santi” written by Mpu Santi Badra, 1401 Caka (1479 M) – indicates that the pioneer of batik Lasem was Princess Na Li Ni (wife of Bi Nang Un, a ship captain of Chenghe Admiral).

The influences of Chinese culture can be noted at batik Lasem in the motifs of dragons, peacoacks, kilin (Chinese mythologic dragon), chicken, butterflies, golden fishes, peony flowers, chrisantenum flowers, baby bamboo, ban ji and so on. And Javanese culture is clearly signed in the designs of parang, kawung, udan liris etc. The dominant colors of batik Lasem are dark-red, blue, light-brown, green, dark-brown, and purple. The most unique and popular color of batik Lasem is the dark-red and is usually called as ‘chicken-blood red’. Consummers extremely love Tiga Negeri (Three Countries), Lok Can, Bang-bangan (Redish) and Bang-biron (Red-Bluish) designs of batik Lasem.

In fact, all batik enterpreneures were Chinese at the time. At 1970 there were still 144 Chinese people who made batik Lasem. But then since 1990 there was significant changing of the etnicity and locations of batik manufactures. The batik Lasem enterpreneures then dropped to only 22 persons at 2007 consists of 13 Chinese origins (59%) at Lasem and 9 (41%) Javanese at suburban.

***

More than thirty people took part at the discussion moderated by Seno Satrio Prakoso from Widya Mitra Foundation which fully supported the exhibition. Mr Kwan explained all the things of batik Lasem to audiences who were very enthusiastic to the topic. The discussion last at around 9:30 pm and it almost two hours’ run.

Surprissingly, a welknown Indonesian photographer and his wife attended the exhibition. They are Deniek G. Sukarya and his wife Karen who is a batik lover. This top level photographer is very popular for his travel photo shots. His photo works show the richness of this country.

A leading batik collector Handoko, living in Semarang, came and joined with the audiences. I personally wish thank to him for lending me his extraordinary collections to the show.***