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.