Indonesian Art at Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton Paris

Last Thursday there was the opening at Louis Vuitton of Indonesian Contemporary Art. This gives me great pleasure. In 1991 I worked at the Gate Foundation in Amsterdam and the 1st project I worked on was Indonesian Modern Art. At that time non Western Art was considered as a 'Craft' with little or no added value to the contemporary art scene. Luckily this is all in the past.

The joy was off course to see and meet the artists in Paris I worked with in the past like Heri Dono. But I was very proud of my friend Mella Jaarsma, a very talented artist, Dutch born who has been working and living in Jogyakarta for the last 27 years. She is also together with her husband Nindityo Adipurnomo (also a talented artist) the pioneers of Indonesian Contemporary Art.

They founded in the 80's one of the first contemporary art gallery Cemeti in Indonesia. At a time when censorship was very severe in Indonesia free expression was a dream! All this with very limited funds. With their passion and integrity and creativity they continued. Cemeti Art House has now international recognition and both participate actively in the International Art Scene. A very nice story indeed. With Mella I worked on 2 exhibitions, which was, stress, difficult, absurd, amusing and finally great fun as our sense of humor saved us from despair!
Mella wore a DEDEM scarf to the opening in Paris and I thought she looked very chique!

www.mellajaarsma.com / www.cemetiarthouse.com (the exhibition will be in Paris until 23rd of October 2011).