Indonesia's first contemporary art museum — the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN) — opens this month, and its inauguration signals a new wave of appreciation for art. “There’s been an emergence of artists and collectors,” says Deborah Iskandar, founder of ISA Art Advisory, a Jakarta-based consultancy firm. “Contemporary artists like Arin Dwihartanto, Sinta Tantra and Naufal Abshar have gained recognition. Their artworks carry Western sensibilities, putting them on … [Read more...]
Going Global
Managing director of Jakarta based international auction house enthuses JJK that Indonesian art is set to reach greater heights at the international level. Everyone has his or her own view when expressing the meaning of art. For an avid art collector like Deborah Iskandar, art is more than just the design of objects and artefacts. “To me, art is an appreciation of the sophistication and delicacy of the striking elements of artistic forms such as painting and sculpture that you can enjoy … [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...]
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...]