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.