Biennale X to close with auction

By Amir Sidharta

JAKARTA (JP): The works from Biennale X, Jakarta's tenth fine arts biennial, will be auctioned off tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta.

Approximately 90 paintings will be offered at estimates from a modest Rp 1 million to a lavish sum of Rp 60 million.

Paintings by Herry Dim, an artist who usually does installations, are also priced quite low. However, his paintings may be a little too obscure for the average collector.

Hanura Hosea's Meeting of the Taste Committee (1996), a 90 by 100 centimeter acrylic on canvas, might be the most popular piece on offer. It has been commended by some art critics in Indonesia for its cynical social commentary. Though one of the lowest priced paintings in the auction at Rp 1 million, it is expected to be sold for much more. Hanura's second painting, Obedient Participants, is a large and very interesting piece which is also very reasonably priced.

Rudi S.T. Darma's sketches display the high potential of the artist. Although the paintings do not stand out, they have been sought after by a few collectors. Four watercolors by young artist Bunga Jeruk Permata Pekerti, titled Alamanda, Ex-Bride, To Solo, and Dinner for Two are all romantic depictions which seem to be set in Europe. Each priced at Rp 1.5 million, the idyllic paintings are also expected to sell well.

Another very popular painter is Jerry Thung. Three Golden Points and Borobudur, with estimates of Rp 2.5 million and Rp 5 million, have generated a lot of interest. Many believe them to be perfect for a Chinese or Japanese restaurant in Indonesia, as they contain visual elements of Indonesian culture and are handled with exquisite simplicity.

Toward the end of the biennial, a foreign art dealer expressed interest in purchasing some of the paintings directly. When he was informed that all the works were to be auctioned, he was rather skeptical. He was not happy when he found out that his client was among those who had already expressed interest in the painting.

Nasirun, whose works belong to what I call the Yogyakarta Expressionist school, is offering his paintings for prices ranging from Rp 5 million to Rp 10 million.

Meanwhile, budding Balinese artist Nyoman Erawan, who emerged in the previous biennial with his installations, appears this year with strong paintings. The paintings range from Rp 8 million to Rp 26 million. The difference in pricing is usually based on size.

Some of the paintings to be offered are steep in price. Dan Hisman Kartakusumah's Floating Mass (acrylic on plywood, 1996) is indeed a large piece. However, many doubt that it will be sold for the asking price of Rp 45 million.

Utoyo Hadi's 1996 Jubah Emas (oil on canvas, 120 by 145 cm) has a high asking price of Rp 35 million. The curators of the biennial say that a lot of people asked about this piece, but backed out when they heard the price. However, the painter has offered to present two other paintings for Rp 10 million each.

Astari Rasyid's 1996 Temple of Efflorescence (oil on canvas, 200 by 130 cm), has been hailed as the artist's best painting. It is priced rather dearly at Rp 35 million. However, the organizers of the biennial seem to have no doubt that the painting will sell.

Finally, the most impressive piece is Dede Eri Supria's Between the Gate II. Unlike his other paintings which include human figures, this painting is devoid of human representation.

Some art critics have attributed the artist's reluctance to portray human figures to his recent haj pilgrimage. This large oil on canvas, measuring two meters high and four meters wide, is the show's largest piece as well as the most expensive. Priced at Rp 60 million, it is actually quite reasonable, as the artist's smaller works sell for Rp 30 million.

Organizers of the show hope that some major collectors or corporations will show interest in this painting. Dede is certainly one of the most famous artists to have participated in the biennial.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Biennial Committee to prepare for the next biennial. Initially, the committee rejected the proposal of the auction, saying that it would contaminate the sanctity of the biennial institution. However, when one of the works selected for the show by the committee turned out to be sold to a collector, the committee realized that the biennial adds value. If the committee did not reap the profits from the sale of the paintings, then galleries and dealers would take the opportunity instead.

Some of the artists do not support the auction, but most think it is a good idea. After all, the biennials that have been held since 1972 have helped many emerging artists find their place on the Indonesian fine arts map.