Sotheby's appoints RI rep

Sotheby's appoints RI rep

JAKARTA (JP): The international auctioneer Sotheby's has appointed its eighth representative in Asia, Martina Sudwikatmono, a daughter of local tycoon Sudwikatmono.

Martina, renown here for her ownership of franchise restaurant chains including Planet Hollywood, was appointed for "her many business abilities ... and passionate interest" in the arts and other collectibles, said Julian Thompson, the chairman of Sotheby's Asia.

Martina and Thompson told a press conference yesterday that the main aim of a Jakarta representative of the New York-based auctioneer would be to stimulate buyers to buy back Indonesian arts from overseas collections.

Thompson told The Jakarta Post there is a rapidly growing demand for Indonesian items from buyers in Indonesia, meaning the government's ruling against the overseas sale of Indonesian antiques, defined as more than 50 years old, is no longer a constraint to the auction business.

Besides, he said "the stimulation of private collections ... is very important," for the basis of future museum collections.

Martina said that she is also "obsessed by bringing Indonesian works of art (non-antiques) into the international market, to give them the value they deserve."

Other representatives of Sotheby's in Asia are in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur.

Thompson said the choice of Indonesia as another representative is because of the increasing number of Indonesians participating in auctions.

In auctions held in Hong Kong, New York, London, Geneva and other cities, Indonesians show particular interest in the paintings by Indonesians, and modern works by Asians, he said.

"The establishment of a representative here is part of our strategic plan to expand business in Southeast Asia," Thompson said.

The growth of the art market in Asia is the fastest in the world, he added.

However Sotheby's auctions, which first started in London in 1744, have yet to take place here.

A London-based auctioneer, Christie's, held its first auction here last month following free evaluation sessions for collectors in 1994.

But Thompson said for Sotheby's "the market has to develop first" through representatives who provide information and seek buyers and sellers.

"In Taipei we had a representative for 10 years before the first auction," Thompson said.

Martina said she will be working with authorities of the Ministry of Education and Culture in charge of artifacts.

The directorate of artifact protection will determine which items may be auctioned outside the country, Martina said.

An upcoming auction of mostly Indonesian works will be in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in April. (anr)