Jakarta Biennale 2015—A Personal Reflection
8:32 PM
As a complete amateur in the world of contemporary art, coming to Jakarta Biennale 2015 feels like Alice who falls down the rabbit hole: awe-stricken, amazed, and bewildered.
Jakarta Biennale transforms the unassuming Sarinah Warehouse at Pancoran into one giant space of artwork parade. With its bright pink-painted walls and attractive graffitis, this biannual expo leaves little room for casual visitors to feel intimidated by the so-called standard of art exhibitions: wall lamps and cold white walls. It makes me feel excited. It makes me want to explore.
The theme “Maju Kena, Mundur Kena: Bertindak Sekarang”, which translates to “Neither Back nor Forward: Acting in the Present”, is further explored in three subjects: water, history, and gender. It’s hard for me to truly grasp and dwell on every single exhibit, simply because everything seems new to me. Everything looks interesting. Every issue looks crucial. More importantly, it makes me think of how many issues are happening in this world. So. Many. Issues.
I could go on and on about how each artist’s work makes me head spin into a million directions, but I won’t. Truth be told, Jakarta Biennale has given me an endless list of questions, one that I don’t know how to answer. While encouraging people to act instead of think and to revel in “small victories” amidst this chaotic world, it truthfully leaves me feeling more confused than ever. What does “acting in the present” even mean? What can I do? Won’t all these questions leave me in limbo of thoughts instead of finding a solution?
My head is a jumbled mess of ideas—is that what art supposed to do to your brain? Thank you Jakarta Biennale, for making me think.
Sincerely,
Your confused writer
Your confused writer
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