Fine-Art Brand, Space & Image

Tweet.. tweet.. tweeeett.. Standing with both arms wide opened Entang Wiharso continuously blows on his shistle. Meanwhile two beautiful ladies dressed in all white looked solemnly drips wax to both of Entang’s hands. Opening the Space & Image exhibition in the Ciputra World Building, through his performance art Entang Wiharso seemed to be giving criticism to involved elements in the art world. Representing the figure of an artist, Entang spread out his hands and had them dripped by wax, as if he wishes to scream how hard the life of an artist is.

The critic expressed by Entang was in harmony with the vision that Ciputra aspires to develop with his “artpreneurship. Combining art and entrepreneurship; Ciputra hopes to create a new brand for the Indonesian world of art and culture. The brand is hoped to be able to excel Indonesia’s art value, particularly financial wise. When the hope comes true, what will happen is that art will be able to provide welfare for the lives of art workers; and in all desire, to escalate the livelihood of the people of this country in general.

“Mine resources will someday run out, what can always be improved are art and culture,” Ciputra said during the press conference prior to the launching of the Space & Image exhibition.

Optimistic that the art world can be improved, that night Ciputra Group coordinated with Heri Permad Management and gathered 82 artists to be involved in the exhibition. Inevitably, the Ciputra World office building estate was swarmed with various artworks such as sculptures, installation, and also paintings.

“The available space is not a representative space for exhibitions, for this is an office building. But that is where the challenge lies, how to ‘subdue’ the space,” Suwarno Wisetrotomo said.

In the 1990’s many national fine-artists contributed in international biennales. But over the years the number of Indonesian fine-artists those were invited had become less and less. Hopefully the brand Ciputra was mentioning does not only excel the financial aspect only, but also improves Indonesia’s art on its quality.