By Aulia Rachmat, published in The Jakarta Post, February 4, 2008. Celebrating Chinese New Year (Imlek) without Chinese lanterns is like being in a house with no light. Made of paper, the lantern, called lampion here, is the main focus of attention of the celebration as it symbolizes the wish for a bright future. In addition, the Chinese believe that while red is a symbol of happiness, gold is a symbol of wealth. So, it is understandable that Chinese New Year ornaments like lanterns are … [Read more...]
Passion to Show
Taking place from 27 to 30 May 2010, Hong Kong International Art Fair took the world’s most respected contemporary artists into the limelight. With Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as the venue, this third annual event transformed the city with a week of international showcase for talent, raising a hope for Hong Kong to become an Asia’s regional arts hub. Also known as Art HK 10, this year’s fair reflected the diversity and dynamism of Hong Kong as an international city, yet … [Read more...]
The Surprising Value of Stamps
By Aulia R. Sungkar. Published in HighEnd, August 2010. People collect stamps for different reasons. While some collect them purely as a hobby, there are many collectors are engaged in philatelic investment for the purpose of realizing a profit. Philatelic investment was booming during the 1970s. However, the business declined due to a speculative bubble of rare stamps. Not until the beginning of 1990s did the philatelic investment begin to see the light. Rare stamps are among the most … [Read more...]
Life as Comedy
Words by Aulia R. Sungkar. Photography by Adam Glen. Published in Jetstar Asia Magazine, February-March 2010 edition. Lenong has been an important part of Jakarta's comedy scene for more than 600 years. Enjoying popularity for centuries, particularly in the community of Betawi (Jakarta’s indigenous natives), lenong performances have become rare these days. Chairman and play director of Betawi Comedy Foundation, Syaiful Amri is one of the very few who actively organise lenong. There are … [Read more...]
Teguh Ostenrik: IN LIVING COLOUR
Every colour has its own heart. Even the most disliked colour can turn to a beautiful masterpiece through the power of art, according to Teguh Ostenrik. With laid-back appearance, noted painter and sculpture Teguh shows a few of his abstract paintings in his studio. “Every colour has the beauty to contribute to the colourful world in which we all live.” His paintings reflect his keen on playing with colours. The paintings’ translucent layers of facial expressions create the sense of moving … [Read more...]
Indra Leonardi: CAPTURING A SOUL
Every individual has his or her uniqueness and soul wherein Indra Leonardi captures through his photography savvy. The veteran photographer believes art has been a great asset that should always exist in photography realm. “Photography is general, but style is personal,” Indra adds saying that a photographer should have his or her own style. “You can learn photography with all the techniques in camera, lightning and so on. But a photographer should possess a sense of art in order to … [Read more...]
Richard Winkler: A Destiny through Art
Expressing passion and experiences onto his art works, Richard Winkler has always been searching for the beauty and harmony where nature and humans meet. Keen on drawing and painting since childhood, the Swedish-born artist took his grandfather as his absolute idol. “I never forget the time I spent with my grandfather painting and drawing. He was the first one who gave me first lessons. A great painter, indeed, but my grandfather never had the opportunity to make his passion into a … [Read more...]
Putu Sutawijaya: Picturing LIfe to A Canvas
The same object being seen can be completely different when perceiving with heart. And Putu Sutawijaya is able to deliver the alteration into beautiful art works. Born in 1971 in Angsari, Bali, Putu sees art as a journey that delivers various moments and manners. Later, the journey became his source of inspiration for his works. It’s simply a visualization of how he inspires his hobbies of modifying old cars. Just like in a social life, an old car has many parts that collaboratively work … [Read more...]
Deborah Iskandar: Every Canvass Has Its Own Worth
Despite current global economic downturn, Deborah Iskandar attests that Indonesian art is now in the international art radar. With an enthusiastic gesture, the newly appointed head of Sotheby’s Indonesia asserts that some collectors do consider art as an alternative investment as the price of some masterpieces tend to rise as time goes. Also a consultant of Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the American Deborah who has lived in Jakarta for 18 years recalls the most recent Sotheby’s auction of Modern and … [Read more...]
Chinese New Year Food Bringing A Good fortune
By Hanif R. Arrayyan, published in The Jakarta Globe, January 21, 2009. Without having the food play a major role, welcoming the year of Ox will not be in complete. The dining occasion during the celebration offers a variety of Chinese dishes where fortune includes in the food and the ingredients that go in them, translating the menu with symbolic meanings of wealthy and healthy. The foretelling indicating a sign of an increasing wealth and improving health in the upcoming year 2560 of … [Read more...]