FKY gives space to young artists

FKY gives space to young artists

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The bold works of young artists are replacing those of elder
established contemporaries at the Yogyakarta Art Festival (FKY)
this year, part of what its organizers say is a new focus on
youth.

Gone are the paintings of Kartika Affandi, Joko Pekik, Entang
Wiharso and the three-dimensional works of noted sculptors like
G. Sidharta Soegijo or Edhi Sunarso that featured in the past.

"We just have to take the risk (of not displaying the works of
noted artists). We want to make this a talent-scouting event for
young artists through which we can also monitor the progress of
their work," exhibition coordinator Kuss Indarto told The Jakarta
Post.

Held from July 3 through July 17 at Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
Gallery, the exhibition -- "Kotakatikotakita: Yang Muda Melihat
Kota" (Young People View the City) -- is limited to artists of 30
years old at the eldest.

While some might see this restriction as a form of ageism,
cocurator Agung Kurniawan believed it was more about positive
discrimination.

Youth played an important role in the existence of a city, he
said, with the ability to color and form it, or destroy it.

"Yet, are their voices heard yet? Are they given a place?"

This time around, all of the 75 participating artists and
groups had to go through a selection process, unlike at past
events where about half the artists on exhibit were issued
invitations from the organizers.

That process had been criticized by many in the art world who
said often led to exhibition organizers pandering to a select,
sometimes already-privileged group, he said.

"We expect this year's selection model will encourage more
creativity in participating artists as well as provide a more
democratic process," Kuss said.

Works were selected for their esthetic qualities along with
consideration of their sociological and philosophical aspects and
the presence of narratives.

The dominant theme of the exhibition was caring for the city's
urban environment, Kuss said, with artists' work ranging from
the representational and didactic to more metaphorical, symbolic,
or even euphemistic creations.

"Hopefully, these creations will not just end up as art works
on walls but also as social works that will contribute to finding
a solution to our increasing urban problems," Kuss said.

Subject ranged from the creation of faceless shopping malls,
the lack of heritage and town planning and the effect it has on
human health and wellbeing.

"All these things have caused worries that the community will
lose its cultural values of decency and humbleness and turn into
consumer-focused, arrogant society," Kuss said.

Vani HR's The Street Future (120 cm by 80 cm, mixed media)
depicts a city bus expelling black smoke and four heads wearing
transparent glass coverings like oxygen tubes.

Artists grouped in KSR Racun Badak, similarly, present 100
Kuburan Buat Anak Muda Tolol Yogyakarta or literally "100 Graves
for Foolish Young Yogyakartans" (dimension variable, mixed
media), which is an installation works of 100 graves arranged on
the floor of the exhibition room.

Other works with similar themes include M Alimin's Green
Project (65 cm by 140 cm, acrylic on canvas), Made Gede Wiguna
Valasara's Membungkus Tradisi (Wrapping Tradition, 160 cm by 135
cm, acrylic on canvas), Dedy Maryadi's Bayang-bayang Harapan (
Shadows of Hope, 62 cm by 82 cm, pencil on canvas), Agus
Triyanto's Menunggu Jatuh (Waiting to Fall, 140 cm by 140 cm, oil
on canvas), Arief Eko Saputro's Beda Atap Satu Liang (Different
Roof, One Hole, 40 cm by 80 cm, cardboard cut on paper), and
David Armi Putra's Post-Original (150 cm by 100 cm by 50 cm,
bicycle).

Unlike previous festivals where new organizing committees were
selected each year, this year's committee will be in charge of
five future events, allowing members to build on their
experience.

Agung said this meant next year's exhibition would further
develop its the focus on youth.

"Only, next year, we will bring the artists to the streets,
yards, and the sidewalks. We do not want to be based solely in a
white-painted room with yellow spot lights that make everything
on display inside it more 'beautiful'," Agung said.

This would bring art back to the people and away from the art
galleries that had stolen it from them, he said.