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...]
Bringing Art to Light
It is at Mitra Hadiprana Art Center where students are able to explore their realm into healing, creativity and self expression. Aulia R. Sungkar takes a look. While holding a painting brush, the eleven-year-old Jonathan smiles, showing his drawing of arawanas. “This fresh water bony fish is swimming along the yellow bottom of sea. Do you see the black and light-red wavering thick lines? That’s the ocean.” By definition, colour is visual perception that enables someone to differentiate … [Read more...]
My Jakarta-Deborah Iskandar
Deborah Iskandar is an American who has lived in Jakarta for more than 17 years. Having been a representative for an auction house for 12 years and took a much deserved a year break, she was recruited in July 2008 by Sotheby’s, one of the world’s oldest auction houses, to establish its presence in Indonesia and take incumbency as a consultant for Sotheby’s Hong Kong. WHY DO YOU LIKE TO LIVE IN JAKARTA? I find the city a fascinating place to live as there are so many opportunities despite some … [Read more...]