+ ROAD is a collaborative project between New Zero Art Space, Yangon, Myanmar and Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Arthub Asia is delighted to support the publication of this project and exhibition.
5 Burmanese Artists + 5 Jogja Artists
Aye Ko (Tin Swe), Htoo Aung Kyaw, May Moe Thu, Thin Lei Nwe, Zoncy (Zon Sapal Phyu)
Doger Panorsa, Ikhsan Syahirul Alim (Ican), Restu Ratnaningtyas, Ristyanto Cahyo Wibowo, Wibowo Adi Utama
“ +ROAD” (read: crossroad) is the title of a cross-cultural art project involving five young artists from Yogyakarta and five artists from Yangon. They were involved in an intensive program designed to present their own works in a context of their own cultural understanding, scrutinizing behind the political, economic and social backgrounds of their art.
All of the exploratory activities of the art project “+ROAD” took place between June 1 – 13, 2010. A presentation and exhibition of the “+ROAD” activities will take place on June 13 – 30, 2010, at Cemeti Art House. The exhibition and presentation will be open for public.
After the project is over, a post-event catalog will be published. The catalog will summarize and annotate the experiences, lessons and commentaries from the collaborative project involving two cultures through contemporary art.
Opening
Sunday, 13 June 2010 | 19.30
Cemeti Art House
D.I. Panjaitan 41, Yogyakarta
A short diary
by New Zero Art Group
Here is a brief report of the art programs we did in Indonesia. ”+ROAD”, an art exchange project between New Zero Art Space in Yangon, Myanmar and Cemeti art House in Yogyakarta. Myanmar artists arrived on 1st June at night. The next day at 10 am in the morning , all of the participants artists , the executives of Cemeti and volunteers met at Cemeti Art House. After introduction, we started the presentations of five artists.
1.Doger Panorsa
2.Zoncy
3.Ikhsan Syahirul Alim(Ican)
4.Wibowo Adi Utama
5.Nwe
After the presentation, we visited studios of Jyogya artists leading the art society such as
Mes 56 (Photography), IVAA, and Agus Suwage.
On 3rd June, we continued presentaions of another five artists:
1. Aye ko
2.Restu
3.May Moe Thu
4.Htoo Aung Kyaw
5.Ristyanto Cahyo Wibowo
After the presentation, we visited some another studios such as Sangkring Gallery and Kuni Cultural Studies.
During each presentation, many questions came out and all participants presented their individual interesting perceptions on art. Especially, a comparison between the history of Myanmar art and the history of Indonesia art had occupied most of our conversations. Later we assisted to the performance/workshop by the artist Agung Kurniawan with a presentation of his interesting art works.
Afterward, the artist lead a performance art workshop and we exchange how each group understood anthers’ country by creating a group-performance. Via these performances, we tried together to make a picture of our situation in Myanmar so that the local community could understand our back-ground. Afterwards Kedai Kebun Forum (Agung’s restaurant) served us a great lunch.
At night around 7 pm, we went to the Tembi Comtemporary Art center. It was quite far away from Cemeti and we We missed the installation performance by the Australian young artist Scotia Monkivitch. We listened later to the artist talk by the artist Suzon Fuks and finally we moved to another place, Mes 56, for a photography exhibition.
On Saturday, 5 June, we visited Marlioboro shopping area and an ancient temple, Prambanam. On the way to Prambanam, we visited the Black Goat gallery of the young artist Entang Wiharso.
On 6 June, we visited the famous artist Eko Nugroho.
Then we visited to a sculptor workshop, the biggest one in Yogya.
On 7 June, a workshop by one of the Cemeti Art House Founders, Mella Jasma was done at Cemeti. We focused our thinking on the importance of materials in an art work. We evaluated and developed progressively a new art prototype.
First we had to choose a certain material, then a specific association concern with the material, and finally a specific understanding of the material. From that workshop, we started thinking of the preparation for the art work we had to produce for the exhibition. It was a very busy period for all and a new style of artwork came out of this process for most of the Myanmar artists: video arts, installations , 3D collage works and more.
On 13 June, We had a very happy time at the opening party of “+Road” not only for the individual works but also for “Commando Dance ” of the invited Indonesian artists.
On 14 June, we flight to Bali. In Bali, the city of commercial painting and craft, we visited many art galleries and museums. The artist of Wina gallery, Antonius Kho and the artist Nyoman Kemyem
invited us the first dinner. The performances of three of the Myanmar artists, Aye Ko, Zoncy, Htoo Aung Kyaw and the two Bali artists, Jasmine and Diyano were shown at Sika gallery.
We had our flight back to Yangon on 18 of June.
