The gossamer curtain

The idea of death is promptly buried out of sight in the west, a state of forever gone.In the east, death is another story entirely. In Bali, it is cremation season, a time to raise loved ones perhaps long dead or recently passed from mossy beds; to wake sleepy spirits in preparation for their...

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In preparation for ‘ngaben’

Every day, men, women and children head to the community bale banjar to create the specified offerings — to build the great bamboo platforms that will carry the sarcophagi or make endless baskets to carry the flowers, fruits and rice of offerings. Gusti Mangku Batur of Tengkulak Kaja says the...

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‘Motion/Sensation’: An exhibition of kinetic art

The Kinetic Art Exhibition titled “Motion/Sensation” organized by Edwin’s Gallery at the Jakarta Art District in Grand Indonesia reveals that Indonesian artists have been making kinetic art long before the term became an understanding in art creation. Heri Dono, for instance, is known for the...

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Art Jog 2011 making its mark

Featuring 251 paintings, sculptures, installations and videos from 165 artists, the exhibits were selected from 3,500 submissions by 1,770 hopefuls. Due to the limited space, not all the works could be displayed, but a complete selection is available in the catalogue. A greater emphasis this...

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A portrait of Javanese values

Love, harmony and serenity are among the values taught for people to live by.  Based on some Javanese values, the “Java Dwipantara” art exhibition features some realism paintings that are as striking as their inspirations.  The Javanese word sumeleh refers to a pure and peaceful state...

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Uniform, The marking or dissolving of identity?

In any period of time, there have been people who were curious and critical, and others who just went with the flow and took things for granted. Jim Allen Abel, Jimbo for short, who was born in Luwu, the cradle of the Bugis creation, epos, Sureq Galigo, initially did not belong to either group...

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Reconsidering Earth

The exhibition of 35 artists from various countries at North Art Space in Ancol, Jakarta, comes amidst celebrations of the city’s 484th anniversary, and is a timely reminder of the environmental mishaps plaguing the city. With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is easy to forget that we...

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Visual art inspired by words

This concept is explored by the daily newspaper Kompas in its Sunday edition, in which it regularly publishes a short story accompanied by an illustration. Thus, the weekly edition presented a short story (cerpen) plus an illustration. Many of those beautiful illustrations are displayed in an exhibition...

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