Rising Talents Craft a Career With the Masriadi Art Foundation
Jakarta. One of the greatest challenges facing young Indonesian artists is gaining exposure and professional experience in the process of developing of their careers. With progressively more people completing formal art studies, along with amateurs and seasoned artists wishing to exhibit their work publicly, the availability of exhibition space is never consistent with demand.
“While studying at the Indonesian Art Institute [ISI] in Yogyakarta there were few opportunities for myself to exhibit outside of campus,” says Indonesian art celebrity Nyoman Masriadi, credited as the first living Southeast Asian artists to surpass the $1 million price tag at auction.
“Nowadays the situation remains similar, while even becoming more exclusive, meaning unless you have a [prominent] name, your chances of exhibiting become increasingly difficult.”
Determined to contribute to the development of Indonesian art and the promotion of emerging artists, two years ago Masriadi set about establishing a platform for artists under the age of 30 to gain opportunities to learn and grow. On June 7 an enthusiastic local and international art audience gathered in Sleman, Yogyakarta, to celebrate the opening of the Masriadi Art Foundation (MAF) ̶ a not for profit art institution. As a part of MAF’s first pilot project the opening was highlighted by “In the Name of The Risk," an exhibition of work by art students from ISI Yogyakarta.
“The MAF is an exhibition space, art laboratory and personal reception room, scheduling four exhibitions annually, along with discussions and workshops. We plan to build our profile with an Indonesian and international audience of collectors, dealers and art lovers,” Masriadi says.
“I think we’re just in the early stages of seeing Indonesian artists make a name for themselves on the international scene,” says Nick Onley, director of the Paul Kasmin Gallery of New York, who has been working together with Masriadi since 2008. “Audiences in New York and in Europe are enthusiastic to see more Indonesian art, but so far they’ve seen precious little work in person unless they’ve made the trip East.
Once competent on the national stage, young Indonesian artists lack opportunities to be exposed internationally because of the inadequate local art infrastructure. There are few Indonesian galleries with international business models to promote them abroad, the country is without an international standard contemporary art museum with a strong curatorial program, and Indonesian art has suffered from a lack of understanding of the principles and practice of art history and art criticism. As a result, auction houses and galleries have filled the gaps in the infrastructure unfortunately placing too much emphasis on commerce.
In the case of Masriadi, foreign initiatives were his springboard to international success.
“I first became aware of Masriadi from Christies and Sotheby’s auction catalogues and followed his career from afar,” Onley says. “In 2008 I saw his solo exhibition ‘Black is My Last Weapon,' supported by Singapore’s Gajah Gallery, at the Singapore Art Museum and knew right away we had to bring him to New York and help to present his work on the international stage.”
With local events such as ArtJog, now in its eighth year, along with the 100-plus events during June in the Jogja ArtWeeks (JAW) program, Yogyakarta is consolidating itself as the center of Indonesian art, increasingly capturing the international limelight, and evolving as an art tourism destination as the number of foreign visitors escalate. During recent years, artist have run spaces, collectives and initiatives, and foundations have transformed Yogyakarta’s art landscape. And with the addition of the MAF, this is set to improve.
“Considering what the local artists and patrons have accomplished in Yogyakarta, with little existing infrastructure, fueled with passion, and a do-it-yourself ethics, building a fertile and active community from the ground up, the further growth of a stronger infrastructure would help the art scene truly thrive,” Onley says. “I'm very pleased with the MAF and it's a wonderful opportunity for Masriadi to give back and support young artists. While he has worked extremely hard to get where he is, he is very grateful and is excited to give talented young artists an early opportunity.”
The MAF opening was attended by senior local and foreign art industry figures, including Lorenzo Rudolf, founder and director of Art Stage Singapore.
Art critic and historian Jean Couteau stated, “Its always good to have new ‘actors,' beyond collectors, contributing to national stage, and if Masriadi can add an international dimension, all the better.”
Featured artists included “In the Name of the Risk” are: Rara Kuastra, Lingga Ami Lisdianto, Justian Jafin, Made Agus Darmika and Aditya Chandara. Two of the artists have graduated from ISI Yogyakarta and work as professional artists, while three others are still studying on campus.
“As a young artist it is important to be committed to hard work and the process of artistic development. And also to keep dreaming,” says Rara Kuastra. “I am very grateful and fortunate to be selected to exhibit in the first MAF exhibition.”
Made Agus Darmika says, “It is a growing problem nowadays for young artists to display their work so we are thrilled to have this rare chance to be exposed to domestic and international art lovers. The feedback we have received already has been very good."
“We have selected the artists [based on] their level of technical skills, concepts, and individual artistic processes,” says exhibition curator and ISI lecturer Mikke Susanto. “It’s important that we encourage them to learn to compete, while generating skillful, tough artists for the future.
This exhibition is one of the many trials for these young artists who are a part of the future of Indonesian art. For the sake of experience, the risks for these artists are certainly worth taking.”
Now, with a globally high profile, Masriadi’s opportunities are only increasing. Along with being represented by the Paul Kasmin Gallery at major international art fairs, he is also preparing for his next solo show with the gallery in New York in the spring of 2016.
"In the Name of the Risk" continues through July 7.
Open Daily 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Masriadi Art Foundation Jl. Kebon Agung Ruko Bale Mulia Kav. 2-3,
Sendangadi Mlati Sleman, Yogyakarta Tel: 62 274 8600138 Masriadiartfoundation.com
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