Following an exhibition in Jakarta in August and in Semarang in September, the exhibition, “The Past, The Forgotten Time”, visited Shanghai, China, from October 25 – November 11, 2007. This exhibition was held at Biz-Art, a non-commercial art organization in Shanghai.
This exhibition is an ending for the exhibition series “Masa Lalu Masa Lupa” had been hold by Cemeti Art House during 2006. This topic is a representation of the effort to campaign critical approach to the history, both as basis for creating works as well as a curatorial idea. Artists question our beliefs about whatever has been presented as true history. This exhibition departs from the research program “Indonesia across Orders” of the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation, involving 13 researchers from Gadjah Mada University. The research provides new insights into the consequences of war, revolution and decolonization for the different population groups in Indonesia from 1930s to 1960s.
We invited Agus Suwage, Eko Nugroho, Irwan Ahmett, Prilla Tania, Wimo Ambala Bayang and Yuli Prayitno to discuss and communicate with the researchers, exchange data and collaborate on ideas. The artists also conducted research on the historical sites referred to in the papers and examined the relationship between past events with what happening presently.
This exhibition represents a variety of perspectives focusing on the struggle of “Becoming Indonesia”. Personal stories mixed with formal facts to indicate how the colonial situation became a major part in the attempt to formulate an Indonesian identity. Beginning with the visual forms produced by these artists, we learn to remember and reflect on the past, and together, oppose forgetting.
Not only were the works of six artists (Agus Suwage, Eko Nugroho, Irwan Ahmett, Prilla Tania, Wimo Ambala Bayang, Yuli Prayitno) exhibited, but the curator of the exhibit, Alia Swastika, and one of the artists, Yuli Prayitno, participated in a brief residency of almost one month in Shanghai. In addition to assuming responsibility for the exhibition display and organization, they also had the opportunity to conduct research and observe the art circle in Shanghai. Although Shanghai is not as popular as Beijing in the development of the arts, there are many interesting museums and galleries to visit in Shanghai. Alia and Yuli Prayitno also scheduled meetings with curators, artists and craftmen and women who live in the city. They also made presentations and met with students at art academies in Shanghai. It is hoped that a continuing dialogue and exchange between Indonesian and Chinese artists, albeit within a limited time frame, can be maintained to optimalize cooperation in the future.
