Art for everybody

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