Paintings go on sale

YOGYAKARTA: Art lovers should rush to Semarang, Central Java, as 600 paintings by 72 artists will be sold at bargain prices in an attempt to stimulate public interest and appreciation of the arts.

The paintings will be on sale until Jan. 17 at Pasaraya Sri Ratu in Semarang. All paintings will be sold for less than Rp 1 million (US$181).

"We, the artists, have agreed not to sell a painting for more than one million rupiah. But even with the low price, we guarantee the quality," said the show's coordinator, Godod Sutejo.

"By lowering the price it doesn't mean that we revile the product quality of the artists. We just need to find ways to improve people's appreciation of paintings," Godod said.

Some of the painters whose work will be on sale are Saptoto, Antok, Budi Siswanto, R. Otto Djaya, Sigit Setiarso, Syaiful Adnan, and Y. Eko Supriyadi, Antara reported. (mds)