Welcome to Yogyakarta, a hive of alternative art spaces
"I don't know what I'm doing and why I keep doing it." Carved into moss-covered tiles on the ground, these are the words that greet me when I arrive at the artist-run space Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta.
"I don't know what I'm doing and why I keep doing it."
Carved into moss-covered tiles on the ground, these are the words that greet me when I arrive at the artist-run space Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta. The artist collective Tromarama created the installation, Unconsciously Conscious, during a recent residency in the Indonesian city. The statement is a playful jab at local belief in Javanese myths.
Known for its batik artists, puppet makers and silversmiths, the central Java city of Yogyakarta is today teeming with alternative contemporary art spaces.
Thriving outside the mainstream gallery system, many are run by graduates of the city's esteemed Indonesian Institute of the Arts. Unconventional in their approach, the artists are experimenting with open studio programmes and informal exhibition styles.
It's a very drastic change but promotion of artists can be done by many other galleries. That's not our goal
Cemeti Art House has been a creative hub for Indonesia's leading artists such as Nyoman Masriadi, Handiwirman Saputra and Heri Dono since 1988. While it previously functioned like a gallery, the space has recently cut down on its selling shows as a reaction to the market boom in Indonesian art.
"It's a very drastic change but promotion of artists can be done by many other galleries. That's not our goal," says Nindityo Adipurnomo, who founded the space with his wife, Mella Jaarsma. They have turned their attention to hosting residencies to mentor young artists. For much of the year, Cemeti Art House now transforms into a communal studio for visiting artists that is open to the public.