Indonesian Art Group Named to Lead Documenta

 

Documenta is one of the most respected art events in the world. The art program is held every five years in Kassel, Germany.

Recently, organizers chose a group of Indonesian artists to curate the next program. They asked ruangrupa, an Indonesian art collective¹, to serve as the show’s artistic² director.

This is the first time documenta has picked a group of people, instead of an individual, as its curator. The announcement has helped bring attention to Indonesia’s lively yet struggling art scene.

Documenta is now preparing for its 15th show, which will open in June 2022. The art program was launched³ in 1955 to crush⁴ support for Germany’s Nazi⁵ Party after the end of World War II.

In a statement, the committee said it chose ruangrupa for its ability to interest many communities.

Ruangrupa was founded in 2000. The group is known for making art in many forms, such as paintings and installations⁷. The collective’s work has been shown around the world, including art biennials in Singapore and Istanbul. The group also curated an art show in the Netherlands in 2016.

At the last documenta event, ruangrupa worked on part of a radio project called Every Time a Ear di Soun.

The next event is called documenta 15. Two ruangrupa members said in a statement the show might explore things like new forms of education and “the importance of art in social practice.”

Another member, Argus FS, told VOA he hopes their curation will improve people’s understanding of modern art. He added ruangrupa is one of few art groups supporting art scenes in cities like Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Argus explained that many Indonesians do not understand modern art and said there are few art collectors in Jakarta.

Art and government

He thinks the Indonesian government is not doing enough to help the country’s contemporary art scene.

Slamet Aji Pamungkas is with the Creative Economy Agency⁹, a government organization in Indonesia. He told VOA that the agency has always supported the contemporary art scene. He said it offers guidance, improves performance spaces and helps artists get the technology they need.

Tubagus ‘Andre’ Sukmana is a former head of the National Gallery of Indonesia. He now heads the media art department at the Indonesian Ministry¹⁰ of Education and Culture. Sukmana told VOA that the ministry is ready to offer ruangrupa financing¹¹ if the group requests it.

Sukmana said the government has put together a plan that will support 10 cultural projects, including contemporary art. He said it also plans to give financial aid to artists outside major cities.

Indonesian art scene

The Indonesian contemporary art scene has grown in places like Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bandung in West Java. In a 2014 book, Yvonne Spielmann describes Indonesia’s art movements, such as the New Art Movement in the 1970s. It was born from protest¹² against the narrow “understanding of art at the nation’s academies¹³.”

Today, artists like Heri Dono and Handiwirman Saputra have received attention, both international and local. Handiwirman has been chosen to represent Indonesia at the Venice Biennale in Italy in 2019.

Argus says there are still issues for Indonesian artists, such as overdependence on private museums to show their work. But, he said, Indonesia has the potential to be the leader of contemporary art in Southeast Asia.

I’m Alice Bryant. And I'm Jill Robbins.

Words in This Story

curate – v. to select a number of things for presentation, such as for an art show

scene – n. a particular area of activity (such as art or music) that involves many people

practice – n. the action of doing or using something

installation⁶ – n. a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights and sound)

biennial⁸ – n. any event that happens every two years; most commonly used to describe large international art shows

contemporary – adj. happening or beginning now or in recent times

academy¹⁴ – n. an organization of people who work to support art, science, or literature

potential – n. a chance that something will happen or exist in the future

1 collective   

adj.集体的，共同的；n.团体，集体

参考例句：

• I do feel deeply the strength of the collective. 我确实深深地感到了集体的力量。
• They hold together for collective security.他们为了共同安全而团结在一起。

2 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

4 crush   

v.压垮，压倒，压服，镇压；压碎，碾碎

参考例句：

• This machine is made to crush the rock into powder.这台机器是用来把石头压成碎末的。
• You can't crush so many people into the classroom.不能让这么多人挤进教室。

5 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

6 installation   

n.装置，设备，设施；安装，设置；就任

参考例句：

• All large ships now have a wireless installation.所有的大型船舶现在都有无线电装置。
• When will the installation be completed?安装工作什么时候可以完成？

7 installations   

n.装置( installation的名词复数 )；安装；就职；军事设施

参考例句：

• The cooker,heaters and other electrical installations are all in perfect working order. 厨房、加热器以及其他电器设备都处于完好的工作状态。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 biennial   

adj.两年一次的

参考例句：

• The workers were strongly against the biennial election.工人们强烈反对两年一次的选举。
• His is a biennial,and one of the most useful pasture plants we have.这是两年生植物，也是我们最有用的牧草之一。

9 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 financing   

n.筹措资金

参考例句：

• The main source of our outside financing is bank loan. 我们向外筹措资金的主要渠道是银行贷款。
• They live in a symbiosis with governments that they are financing. 他们与他们服务的政府互利共存。

12 protest   

v.反对，抗议；宣称；n.抗议；宣称

参考例句：

• I can't pass the matter by without a protest.我不能对此事视而不见，我要提出抗议。
• We translated his silence as a protest.我们把他的沉默解释为抗议。

13 academies   

n.专科学校( academy的名词复数 )；研究院；（苏格兰）中等学校；（美国）私立学校

参考例句：

• The millitary academies are also enjoying halcyon years, attracting more and better-qualified students. 军事院校因招收的学生数量多了，质量好了，年头也很好过。 来自辞典例句
• But international students can also attend the nation's five service academies. 而留学生也可以参加国立五个军事院校学习。 来自互联网

14 academy   

n.(高等)专科院校；学术社团，协会，研究院

参考例句：

• This is an academy of music.这是一所音乐专科学院。
• I visited Chinese Academy of Sciences yesterday.我昨天去访问了中国科学院。