CURATED BY AMINUDIN SIREGAR

“History consists of layers and slices. Both have discontinuities and patters within; and the deeper we enter, the rhythms of history we meet increase in variety.”

Gajah Galley is proud to present an exhibition highlighting the development of painting in Indonesia over the past 70 years. Based on 5 years of research by curator Aminudin Siregar, the show highlights the historical contributions by both artists and writers to painting in Indonesia.

Through the perspective of paintings, the exhibition endeavors to shift our view from the search for unifying themes such as periods, chronicles and centuries, towards the phenomenon of “cracks” (ruptures) and discontinuities. This is paramount for the continuity of history as there must be “interruptions” on irregular intervals, which used to be elusive and difficult to understand.

The artists selected for this exhibition have contributed significantly to the “field of history” and this in turn is an effect of history itself. By looking at it as a discontinuity, the exhibition hopes to determine the differences in various domains, while realizing that these domains can exist only through a comparison with one another. Because of this, the artists who represent layers of history in this exhibition are presented in a comparative framework. The exhibition aims to express our critical view by highlighting the development of Indonesian art that is underlined with Indonesia’s unique factors, such as culture and language.

Most importantly, through the paintings, Seeing Paintings: Conversations Before the End of History hopes to show a more accurate history of Indonesian art as a mode of discourse that consists of an intricate journey due to the process of acculturation and enculturation in the form of vocabulary, speech, criticism, polemics, writings, doctrine, bureaucracy, schools, social institutions, and so on.

Opening:
Sunday, 17 November 2013 - 7pm
at Sangkring Art Space
Nitiprayan Rt. 1 Rw. 20 No 88
Ngestiharjo, Kasihan Bantul
Yogyakarta

Exhibiting Artists:
Affandi, S. Sudjojono, Soedibio, Sudjana Kerton, Nashar, Rusli, Oesman Effendi,
Nasjah Djamin, But Mochtar, Srihadi Soedarsono, Amrus Natalsya, A.D Pirous,
Djoko Pekik, Siti Adiyati, Fx Harsono, Dede Erisupria, Lucia Hartini, Ivan Satigo,
I Made Djirna, Mangu Putra, I Gak Murniasih, Agus Suwage, Heri Dono, Nasirun,
Entang Wiharso, Yuswantoro Adi, Ugo Untoro, Putu Sutawijaya, Handiwirman Saputra,
Jumaldi Alfi, Yunizar, M. Irfan, Ay Tjoe Christine, Dikdik Sayahdikumullah, Nyoman Masriadi