RI galleries to take part in ArtSingapore 2000

RI galleries to take part in ArtSingapore 2000

JAKARTA (JP): Four Indonesian galleries, along with another 17
galleries from Asia, will take part in ArtSingapore 2000 next
week.

The Darga Gallery, Embun Gallery, and the Graha/Siont Gallery
will present contemporary artworks by Indonesia's best-known
artists in the art fair that will open on Sept. 28 and run until
Oct. 3, 2000.

Organized by the Art Galleries Association of Singapore,
supported by the National Arts Council and sponsored by the
Singapore Tourism Board and American Express, the five-day event
is boasted as the world's first fair focusing on contemporary
Southeast Asian art.

Twenty-two exhibitors will present a variety of visual art in
various media, especially paintings, ceramics and sculpture from
across China to Southeast Asia, East Asia and America at the
newly refurbished MITA Building on Hill Street.

"Asian Art has been increasing greatly in popularity in recent
years as evidenced by well-received international events such as
the Asian Art Fair in New York. It is entirely right that an art
fair for contemporary Southeast Asian art be held in this region.
This is the source from which the art springs and our galleries
are more than competent experts in this field," Tommy Koh, the
fair's patron, said in a media statement.

The Darga Gallery, which is based in Bali, presents works by
Indonesian artists such as Affandi, Jeihan, S. Sudjojono, Ahmad
Sadali and Made Wianta.

It also showcases the works of the world's greatest painters
such as Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Marc Chagall and
George Braque.

Known as a pioneer in the cross-cultural dialog between
artists, the Darga Gallery welcomes artists of all origins to
study and work in Bali, and now also welcomes the works of
European artists.

The Graha/Siont Gallery was founded by a family of collectors
in Indonesia in 1990 and is a major art dealer in the country. It
has an extensive collection of artworks, antiques, ceramics and
furniture.

In its collection are artworks by prominent artists like Lee
Man Fong, Affandi , Basoeki Abdullah, Hendra Gunawan and
Sudjojono. It also promotes up-and-coming young artists.

The galleries have participated in major auctions like
Christie's and Sotheby's.

The Embun Gallery was founded in January 2000 in Yogyakarta by
Cherry Salim with the mission of supporting young artists and the
arts industry in Indonesia.

Among the artists featured in the gallery are Bilaningsih,
Sekar Jatiningrum and Jerry Thung. The gallery is also promoting
young artists like Dede Eri Supria, Heri Dono, Agus Suwage,
Nasirun and Entang Wiharso.

The fair will feature other best works of famous painters like
Ang Kiukok of the Philippines, Chen Kezhan of Singapore, Chinese
artists from Paris Yang Pei Ming , Tin Tun Hlaing of Myanmar,
Romulo Olazo of the Philippines and ceramicist Iskandar Jalil of
Singapore.

Among the Singaporean galleries scheduled to take part in the
art fare are Art-2, Art Focus, Plum Blossoms Gallery, SooBin Art
Gallery and Wetterling-Teo Gallery.(pan)