Fine Art Exhibition "ArsTropika" held on September 12-16, 2018
As an implementation of the duties and functions of the National Gallery of Indonesia (GNI), some of which are to establish partnerships, organize exhibitions, and provide educational services in the field of fine arts to the wider community, the National Gallery of Indonesia-Ministry of Education and Culture-often runs support/synergy programs between cultural institutions. This program is held in various cities in Indonesia, and is intended for all levels of society, including students, educators/teachers of art and culture, art communities, and the general public.
The support/synergy program between cultural institutions has been implemented by GNI every year. In the last three years, this program has been realized in various activities initiated by the community/art community, including the 1st Terracotta Biennale International Fine Art Exhibition in Yogyakarta (2015); Mural Painting Workshop in the framework of Taman Budaya (TKTB) Gathering of Works throughout Indonesia in Kupang (2015); Painting Workshop in support of Pre-Biennale 2015 in Makassar (2015); Painting Workshop "Tips & Tricks to Paint Models" in support of Indonesian Cultural Week (PBI) #2 in Malang, East Java (2016); and Painting Workshop on T-Shirt in Palu, Central Sulawesi in support of Indonesian Cultural Week (PBI) #3 (2017).
In 2018, GNI has held a similar program which was manifested in the Contemporary Fine Art Exhibition "Serupa Bunyi" in the framework of the International Gamelan Festival (IGF) 2018 as a series of Indonesiana activities at Taman Budaya Central Java. This time, GNI again held a support/synergy program between cultural institutions in the form of a Fine Art Exhibition "ArsTropika" on September 12-16, 2018 at the Art Exhibition Building UPT. Taman Budaya of Central Kalimantan Province. This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between Galeri Nasional Indonesia and the Directorate General of Culture-Ministry of Education and Culture, UPT. Taman Budaya Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah, Taman Budaya Jawa Timur, UPTD Pengelolaan Kebudayaan Daerah Jawa Barat, Taman Budaya Riau, and Dinas Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah.
The ArsTropika exhibition was revealed by the Head of the National Gallery of Indonesia Pustanto to be one of the main programs organized by GNI in 2018 as a cultural platform that integrates GNI activities with regions outside Jakarta, in this case Palangkaraya. "This exhibition is a form of GNI's role in supporting the 2018 Cultural Parks, Museums, and Galleries Meeting held in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan Province as the host," said Pustanto.
The ArsTropika exhibition features 45 artworks in the form of paintings and sculptures/installations from 30 artists from 11 provinces in Indonesia, including Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Java, East Java, Riau, Riau Islands, Lampung, and Gorontalo, as well as seven Indonesian artists whose works have become collections of the National Gallery of Indonesia/state collections. The works are wrapped with the theme ArsTropika, which according to the exhibition curator Sudjud Dartanto is deliberately presented with the aim to, first, show the discourse of naturalism which is characterized by the strength, beauty, soul of nature and its contents, second, to present again the art born from the tropics and the discourse of tropical art which has recently received less attention in the art world, third as a symbolic momentum when this exhibition is held right in the lungs of Indonesia and with its geo-cultural situation, this exhibition can be contextual in exhibiting the discourse of tropical art.
"This curation wants to roll out a joint reading of the discourse of naturalism/orientalism/exoticism that departs from the tropics, how is it thought, lived and interpreted by the artists participating in this exhibition? Both the works from the collection of Galeri Nasional Indonesia and the participating artists in the frame of 'ArsTropika' discourse," Sudjud explained.
In addition to the exhibition, there was also a Fine Art Discussion of the "ArsTropika" Exhibition on September 13, 2018 at the Central Kalimantan Provincial Cultural Park. Presenting speakers Sudjud Dartanto (Curator of "ArsTropika" Fine Art Exhibition), Stefan Buana (Artist/Founder of Barak Seni Stefan), Hajriansyah (Curator/Fine Art Lecturer of STKIP PGRI Banjarmasin), and Zamrud Setya Negara (Head of Exhibition and Partnership Section of National Gallery of Indonesia). The discussion will be attended by cultural arts teachers, students, art communities, artists, and the general public in Central Kalimantan.
Pustanto hopes that this exhibition will be able to provide inspirational, educational, and recreational treats for the wider public, especially the people in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan Province, participants of the 2018 Meeting of Cultural Parks, Museums, and Galleries. It is also hoped that this exhibition can provide additional knowledge and experience by witnessing firsthand the original works of the National Gallery of Indonesia/country collection that have historical value in the history of Indonesian art. Hopefully, this exhibition will be able to provide motivation to foster love and appreciation for regional artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyDIUGzaWAQ
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