NUS MUSEUM. Strategies towards the real S. Sudjojono and Contemporary Indonesian Art

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1 NUS MUSEUM Strategies towards the real S. Sudjojono and Contemporary Indonesian Art 10 May 24 August 2008

2 ... The real lies in the realm of thought and subjectivity..... it resides within a conceptual space..... and it stands as a perennial quandary in debates.. on philosophy, religion, culture and art,... precisely by virtue of its existence in the conceptual realm... Wang Zineng

3 Strategies Towards the Real as a curatorial concept brings to view the works of contemporary artists and modern artists within a out to challenge these existing display strategies. The exhibition display The many voices in the gallery emerge from different sources. the fore the multivariate ways by which modern and contemporary historical frame that seemingly bridges the divide between the modern is guided by the premise that connections between the modern and Artworks on display each bear differing relations with the exhibition s Indonesian artists from S. Sudjojono to 14 contemporary practitioners and the contemporary. Exhibitions which hold these interests take it the contemporary form rich and complex veins that encompass a wide interest to understand artists engagements with the real. Each one conceive and articulate their visions, thoughts, commitments to and upon themselves to make interesting and insightful connections that range of issues and perspectives. On a given theme, such as artists of them delivers a different message to different viewers in multiple engagements with the real. Behind each exhibited work lies a vision challenge the conventional understanding that artworks of different engagements with the real, an infinite number of perspectives can be accents and tones. This is furthered by the curatorial display, which and a thought process; each also is the outcome of an art practice historical periods have distinct characters and exist independently expected. Accordingly, the exhibition space is envisioned as one where seeks to achieve a range of visual and thematic effects. Some works committed to fashioning particular understandings of the world. of each other. Instead, the curators of these exhibitions have multiple perspectives may surface a space where different voices hung side-by-side complement and reinforce each other, whilst Gathered in one space, they urge audiences to notice the broad scope tried to identify historical continuities and changes or to establish can be heard, sometimes smooth and sonorous, sometimes crass and others make discordant and questionable connections that challenge of engagements with the real that cuts across boundaries of art media, curatorial frameworks that allow for the modern to be revisited by the jarring, at times in harmonious agreement, at other times marked by conventional expectations. At another level, text is introduced into the contexts of art practice and generations in art history. contemporary and the contemporary to be historicised. discord. With a space conceived to welcome and accommodate a gallery to intervene productively in the process of reading the artworks. variety of perspectives and articulations, the exhibition is distinguished Indonesian art researcher Hafiz draws upon archival materials to The display for this exhibition traces its roots to a curatorial interest A range of display strategies has accordingly been devised, from by a condition of polyvocality, where multiple voices articulate capture the verbal and written thoughts of Sudjojono beyond his that has emerged distinctly in the last couple of years in Indonesia thematic hangings of the works of contemporary artists to hangings actualities through differing and subjective contexts. Instead of one canvases. The gallery, in turn, comes alive with multiple voices, sensory the pursuit of links between the modern and the contemporary. that bring the works of modern and contemporary artists together story, many personal narratives are put forth, each with equal validity. languages, accents and tones. Curators have solicited contemporary artists to respond to key figures in one exhibition venue but in distinct separated spaces. Strategies An ahistorical and non-linear approach is sought. Instead of hierarchies, Wang Zineng in modern Indonesian art such as Affandi and Raden Saleh or tried to Towards the Real: S. Sudjojono and Contemporary Indonesian Art sets we find layers of meaning in democratic contestation. Exhibition Curator

4 Although our eyes are similar to camera lens, this doesn t mean that our souls are just like a dark room is it? There are more rooms within the soul. Before the picture of a bird is finished, it has to travel first to the depth of our souls. S. Sudjojono

5 Organiser: NUS MUSEUM Partner: Supporters: NUS Museum NUS Museum is a comprehensive museum for teaching and research. It focuses on Asian regional art and culture, and seeks to create an enriching experience through its collections and exhibitions. The Museum has over 7,000 artefacts and artworks divided across four collections. The Lee Kong Chian Collection consists of a wide representation of Chinese materials from ancient to contemporary art; the South and Southeast Asian Collection holds a range of works from Indian classical sculptures to modern pieces; and the Ng Eng Teng Collection is a donation from the late Singapore sculptor and Cultural Medallion recipient of over 1,000 artworks. A fourth collection, the Straits Chinese Collection, will be located at NUS Baba House at 157 Neil Road. NUS Museum launched the NX Gallery in It is conceived as a contemporary art venue to showcase emerging artistic trends in Singapore and beyond, as well as to encourage critical curatorial and museum practices. For the NUS Centre For the Arts and the NUS Museum, these aims afford an emphasis in partnerships within the University and beyond, underscored by the recognition that art and culture form a powerful nexus that connect differing disciplines and institutional interests. Past exhibitions organised at the NX Gallery include Picturing Relations: Simryn Gill and Tino Djumini (May 2007), WE (July 2007) and Coretan: Recent Works of Yunizar (November 2007). 9 from Clementi University Cultural Centre 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, National University of Singapore Singapore Tel: (65) Website: museum@nus.edu.sg Opening Hours: 10am 7.30pm (Tuesdays Saturdays) 10am 6pm (Sundays) Closed on Mondays & Public Holidays from Jurong Exit Kent Vale 33, 183, 188 Clementi Road Exit 9 33, 96, 183, 188 Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music 3 University NUS Cultural Centre Museum 2A Faculty of Engineering School of Design & Environment Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) Kent Ridge Crescent 96, Raffles Hall 95, 96, CFA 151 Studios Visitor s Lodge 5 from City Sports & Recreation Centre Lower Kent Ridge Rd 95, 151 Bus Services Car Park Free Parking: from NUH Yusof Ishak House Weekdays after 7.30pm Saturdays after 1.00pm Sundays and Public Holidays Kent Vale All Day Getting Around: SBS Bus No. 96 from Clementi Bus Interchange / No. 151 from Hougang Central Interchange / No. 33 from Bedok Interchange SMRT Bus No. 188 from Choa Chu Kang Interchange.