[Umahseni, Jakarta]

Painting is a time-honored mode of artistic production. The image of an artist at work with an easel and a paintbrush has and will always be a mainstay in contemplations about the crafting of visual art. Over at Jakarta gallery Umahseni, however,  the aforementioned image, imbued by the history of art and by history itself, with a poignant romance, does not pass muster. Umahseni trumpets a philosophy that insists on art being comprised of contemporary material and trends. Featuring, primarily, works that are “cutting edge” and which incorporate “new media”, Umahseni’s director Leo Silitonga avers that the gallery is more inclined to featuring works that involve the melding of art and science in the creative process as opposed to more traditional forms of arts.

Commercially, however, Leo admits that while cutting-edge new media artworks represent the dawning of a new frontier in artistic creation and expression, such works are difficult to promote for they are “very new to the art market”. This difficulty in promotion is also compounded by the fact that contemporary art rarely functions as merely decorative pieces for the home. As such, they serve no ornamental or utilitarian purpose. Rather, contemporary and new media artworks are stand-alone exhibition pieces which artistic merit as their only and highest value.

Despite the commercial limitations that such multi-layered works of art might pose and face, he is optimistic that the future bodes well for such challenging works of art. Commending the increase in interest shown by the public for art made with new media, he is positive that economic growth in Asia will lead to more people being financially and culturally equipped to appreciate such art.

Art Stage is a crucial agent in cultivating an interest for and awareness of modern art. Being a critical point in the art market will allow for Art Stage to raise the profile of such diverse works of art for buyers and audiences alike. Besides art, Southeast Asia will too become recognized for the works and talent residing therein. To this end, he affirmed that Art Stage is an “important fair in Southeast Asia for Southeast Asian galleries to promote and display their artists”.

- by Indran P.