Russian Collection III unveiled in Jakarta

Russian Collection III unveiled in Jakarta

Evi Mariani and Karen Stingemore, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Boasting 139 contemporary paintings by 16 artists, the third
Russian Collection exhibition was unveiled at the National
Gallery of Indonesia to commemorate the 55th year of close ties
between Russia and Indonesia.

Attended by first lady Kristiani Herawati Bambang Yudhoyono,
about a dozen ambassadors and dozens of painting collectors the
opening ceremony got a warm reception from the assembled art
cognoscenti.

Most of the paintings on display showed new pieces from
several young Russian artists like Tatyana Fedorova and Olga
Yausheva, as well as more established painters like realist
Victor Shilov and Vladimir Anisimov, the head of the Bureau of
Creative Expedition, who is also the curator in the exhibition.

Some of the artists had come to Java, Bali and Sumatra and
painted landscapes and other objects like tropical fruit under
the program of the bureau.

Organized by the bureau and the Russian Embassy in Jakarta,
the exhibition is displaying mostly Impressionist, Realist and
Expressionist paintings that largely stick to the art traditions
of a couple of centuries ago.

Therefore, the ambience created at the gallery, which is also
an old building, emanated from the 18th or 19th century as well
as the present day.

There was a mix of genres presented at the exhibition,
including some striking pastel Impressionist pieces and some
beautiful Indonesian landscapes.

There were many Contemporary Realist paintings, this genre
well-known for giving a simple approach to representation.

Socialist realism was the only form of painting allowed from
the end of the Russian Civil War in 1922 until the dissolution of
the former Soviet Union in 1991, so it is no wonder that realism
is still proving to be popular with Russian artists.

Socialist realism was realistic art aimed at supporting the
ideals of socialism and communism by portraying the workers'
struggle towards socialist progress.

The exhibition not only gives patrons the opportunity to see
various aspects of Indonesian life captured through the eyes of
Russian painters but offers a further insight into the emerging
trends and genres taken up by Russian painters following the
dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Anisimov, who escorted the first lady on an exclusive viewing
of the paintings, said that Ibu Ani showed interest in some
paintings, including some that featured Indonesia.

She also showed interest in a large painting of a Russian
ballerina by Fedorova. This particular painting attracted many
visitors, too.

"I'm interested in some paintings here. But the prices are
quite high although we don't know a thing about the artists,"
Yanti Tambunan, a collector and painter, said.

She added the organizers quoted a price of more than Rp 200
million for the ballerina painting and more than Rp 150 million
for another.

Yanti, who has a collection of about 50 paintings including
work by Jeihan, Popo Iskandar and Barli, said that she might as
well buy paintings at a similar price by well-known Indonesian
artists.

"At least I would know that I'd made a smart investment,"
Yanti said, regretting that the exhibition organizers did not
provide enough information on the painters.

The organizers had provided artist biographies in several
catalogs. However, people had to buy them. The cheapest was a
compact disc that cost Rp 100,000 (US$11).

However, she added that most Indonesians were not familiar
with Russian painters anyway, so that made it difficult for her
to decide whether Russian paintings would be a good investment or
not.

The Russian Collection exhibition in Indonesia started in 2000
and was staged for the second time in 2003.

During the third Russian Collection, the organizers also
displayed some photographs recalling Russia-Indonesia ties. Most
featured founding Indonesian president Sukarno.

in box:
Russian Collection III
through Aug. 20
National Gallery of Indonesia
Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 14
Central Jakarta

captions
;JP;ANT;
ANPAv..r..
caption-russia-painting
JP/18/rus-cap

A:
Ballerina in a looking glass by Tatyana Fedorova

B:
River Kertapati, Sumatra, by Vladimir Anisimov

C:
Boats in Bengkulu, Sumatra, by Vladimir Anisimov

D:

First lady Kristiani Herawati Bambang Yudhoyono (left) receives
Istana Bogor by Russian Olga Yausheva from the wife (center) of
painter-cum-curator Vladimir Anisimov (right) at the opening of
Russian Collection III at the National Gallery.