Appreciating Art Lecture Series - Indonesia August 17, 2012

The contemporary art scene in Indonesia is one of the most dynamic in the region. This presentation examines key political and cultural markers in Indonesia’s recent history, and their impact on artistic practices – from the beginnings of contemporary art in the 1970s with the Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru (New Art Movement), to the strident socio-political commentaries of the 1990s, and the more introspective and personally-inflected articulations of the Reformasi (Reformation) period. Also addressed are factors shaping current developments in Indonesian contemporary art, such as the impact of the art market boom, the rise of fundamentalist religious groups, the role of private and ground-up initiatives, and the desire of Indonesian artists to re-examine traditions and cultural identities in an increasingly globalised and homogenous world.