Art for everybody

A new tradition of art values commences when CP Open Biennale (CP-OB) opens on Sept. 3 at the National Gallery in Central Jakarta, continuing daily every day throughout the month except Mondays.

Questioning prevailing art practices dominated by values imposed by certain groups and interests, the CP-OB pursues to redefine the understanding of the "international world" in the arts.

Organized by CP Foundation, which Tjianan Djie and Jim Supangkat established in Washington D.C., it is supported by Bank Indonesia and UBS.

Lead curator Jim Supangkat notes that "Internationalism" ignored art development outside Europe and America, and placed the development of the latter in a marginal position.

Deviating from the usual conditions of a biennale or any international exhibition, CP Open Biennale announced, then selected "applicants" according to its mind-frame corresponding to the theme "Interpellation".

A total of 167 works by 128 participants (20 percent foreign) represent visual arts mediums: painting, drawing, sculptures, installation works, objects, photography, video arts, fiber arts, and three-dimensional works using ceramics, wood, metal, fibers and human hair.

There will be an international symposium discussing the need for a more democratic understanding of "international" in art (Sept. 4), with speakers from Japan, Honk Kong, the Netherlands, Australia and Indonesia.

On Sept. 27, an arts seminar discusses the Indonesian arts by way of identifying the existing developments and their relations with the international art forums.

Selected artists will guide tours at the National Gallery at 11 a.m. on Sept. 7, 13, 20, and 28. There are also special children's workshops on Sept. 14 and 21. Participation is subject to registration.

More information at www.cp-foundation.org, or contact Naning Sugeng, general manager of CP Foundation, at mobile phone 0815 1821329.

-- Carla Bianpoen