Truly Indonesian interior design has yet to emerge

Truly Indonesian interior design has yet to emerge

Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta

The interior design business looks bright as the property
sector has started to recover in the past couple of years but
like other developing countries truly Indonesian interior designs
have still taken time to emerge from a populace who are largely
not very aware of interior design.

Unlike in the U.S. where significant numbers of people have
both the money to spend as well as a high appreciation of
interior design, Indonesians lack both the finances as well as
the appreciation of the esthetics of design.

"Most Indonesians are content with having simple houses of
their own. They still have no need for interior designers,"
Prieyo Pratomo, interior design consultant from the Jakarta
Design Center, said here over the weekend.

Prieyo believes that only a privileged few at the top of
social pyramid have developed a need for the services of interior
designers. Though the market for interior designers is still
small, it has started to recover along with the recovery of the
property sector.

"One indication of this improving market is that cranes have
started to operate again at construction sites," said Prieyo.

Another interior designer Kamaludin from Jakarta-based Desimal
Sentra Desain shared the same optimism about the prospects of the
design consulting market. The surge in the sales of original
paintings gives a strong indication of the improvement in the
home interior market, he added.

"The high sales of paintings indicates that more houses are
being built since paintings constitute an integral part of home
interior design," Kamaludin said.

Regarding home interior design, Indonesian interior designer
John H.G. Soe of Jakarta-based Megtra said that Indonesians
generally follow popular trends.

"In the 1990s many Indonesians rushed to adopt post modernist
styles. Currently, a minimalist style with simple details and
straight lines is very popular," he said.

Kamaludin agrees that the minimalist style still characterizes
global as well as Indonesian home interior designs. Furnishings
generally reflect simplicity in shape as well as ornamentation.

"Furniture sets that suit well this minimalist style have
simple shapes that have no detail or carving. The paintings that
match this style are characterized by minimal lines such as
abstract paintings that emphasize esthetic rather than realist
elements," he noted.

Along with this minimalist trend, back to nature constitutes
the theme for most major European countries. This strong nature
theme is shown in the kind of furniture and home furnishings
being exported to countries in Europe.

Most of furniture and home furnishings displayed at Indonesian
Resource 2004 that is being held in Jakarta from Oct. 15 to Oct.
19 are also mostly made of natural materials such as dried and
twisted water hyacinth, abaca, sea grass and rattan. All these
materials are handwoven.

"The high demand for furniture and home furnishings of natural
materials is an indicator of the kind of home interior designs
that are popular in the West. The back to nature theme reflects a
high degree of environmental awareness," added Kamaludin.

The minimalist trend is also reflected in the choice of more
simple flooring that tends to reflect simplicity. Special ceramic
and exclusive terracotta tiles that highlight natural and simple
color have become trendy among Indonesians. For most Indonesians,
ceramic flooring is still very popular.

Though acknowledging the strong domination of the minimalist
style in home interior designs, another young Indonesian designer
Leonard Theosabrata of PT Accupunto International said eclectic
designs have also started to emerge.

The eclectic theme which combines all design concepts
available such as classic and minimalist pieces is now popular in
Jakarta's cafes. He believes that people have started to abandon
the minimalist look.

"Products with minimalist designs are already cliche. Many
people produce such products but they look too commercial,"
Leonard said.

In spite of globalization, the national identity of some
nations remain strong. The Chinese, Japanese or Koreans still
show their unique cultural identity through their respective
interior designs.

While Indonesians tend to adopt whatever styles are offered to
them by designers, one may question whether Indonesia's own
unique identity may be able to emerge and grow in home interior
design.

Speaking about Indonesian identity in home interior design,
one is immediately faced with questions such as which ethnic
group could be representative of this ethnically and culturally
rich and diverse nation.

In addition, almost all items in home interior design,
including furniture and home furnishings, originate from recent
introductions.

Even furniture that is made of local materials such as rattan
and water hyacinth can hardly represent local furniture since
such materials only constitute a response to what is selling well
in western countries.

"Our manufacturers simply see that furniture with such natural
materials have drawn a positive market response in the West.
Thus, they start imitating the product trend without having a
concept of their own," Prieyo said.

However, almost all interior designers agree that Indonesia
should have its own identity in interior design. With its strong
cultural and ethnic diversity, the formation of a truly national
identity may not be easy, if at all possible, in the short run.