TAKE A LOOK AT ART JAKARTA 2022, AN INDONESIA’S ART FAIR THAT WELCOMES VISITORS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND SIGNALS THE RECOVERY OF THE ART MARKET
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
Art markets in Asia are finally starting to make their comebacks after being hit hard by COVID-19. In August 2022, the auction house Sotheby’s held an on-ground auction event in Singapore for the first time in 15 years. Next year, Singapore will host Art SG, an art fair that aims to boost Southeast Asia’s art market. Not only that, Frieze, a veteran London-based contemporary art magazine that is also the organizer of the world-famous “Frieze” art fair, brought Frieze Seoul to Asia in early September this year. Its debut in South Korea’s capital city has already created a lot of buzz among the region’s art collectors.
Indonesia is another destination that art lovers are keeping an eye on. Between August 26th and 28th, 2022, the country hosted its very own ‘Art Jakarta 2022’ at the Jakarta Convention Center. The event is one of the most prominent art fairs in Southeast Asia and this year marks the 12th time it has been held.
Photo courtesy of Art Jakarta
art4d was there, jamming and exploring. The first thing that caught our attention once we arrived at the hall where the event took place was the ubiquitous neon pink signs and boards, not to mention the acrylic invitation card, whose vibrant pink color could be easily noticeable even if we dropped it in the dark. The pink, which was chosen as this year’s theme color, symbolizes celebration after the pandemic has finally been resolved. It’s somewhat of an implication that Art Jakarta is officially back.
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
The hall welcomed visitors of all backgrounds and purposes. And while the fair is a commercial art fair that focuses on pairing up collectors to artists or galleries, the crowd wasn’t made up entirely of wealthy art patrons and buyers, but also of members of the general public and students, who were enjoying art and leisurely taking pictures of the exhibited works. It’s safe to say that the event was a chance for people to access and appreciate art in their own ways.
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
The main venue houses smaller booths, each belonging to the participating galleries. This year, the fair welcomed a total of 62 galleries, 39 from Indonesia and the remaining 23 from other Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan.
Two Thai galleries didn’t miss the opportunity to be a part of Art Jakarta. SAC Gallery brought a stunning, whimsical series of sculptures, ‘The Tangible Tales’ by Vipoo Srivilasa. Meanwhile, Warin Lab Contemporary featured Ari Bayuaji’s textile series, ‘Weaving the Ocean, which revolves around the maritime environmental crisis.
Photo: Anya Wan
Photo: Anya Wan
Photo: Anya Wan
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
Apart from the works exhibited in the booths, the hall also housed a number of art installations, including works that are part of collections that are owned by different institutions and allied organizations. Among the highlights were the three lovely cast iron pink flamingos by South Korea’s Sang Soo-Lee and the Fountain, in which the artist, Marco Cassani, arranged the coins that people threw into a well at a temple in Bali while making their wishes into towering stacks, making people anxious with the thought of them collapsing while encouraging viewers to take a closer look at a coin from other possible aspects besides its financial values.
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
Photo: Pratchayapol Lertwicha
Despite being delayed for three years due to COVID-19, we think this return of Art Jakarta was a great success, judging from the size of the crowds who visited the fair. The energy of the next Art Jakarta will be even more hyped considering how the world is on its way to a full recovery from the pandemic. Let’s just all pray that there will be no more unfortunate and unexpected incidents.