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When a group of ladies comes together, it is almost guaranteed there will be a lot of chatting, laughter and merriness. But the ladies of Kemang 104 know that socializing can also produce enlightening art.

Founded in 1989, the group of eight women, who all share a passion for painting and sculpture, wanted to have a platform to communally develop their artistic talents. After nearly a decade in waiting, they decided to take their passion to a new level and put on annual group exhibitions.

Their first joint exhibition in November 2007, not only gave them a chance to showcase their abilities to the public, but, as they explained in a press release, it was a chance “to continue learning to improve our skills and techniques. We gladly receive various input, knowledge and criticism from close friends and observers of our work.”

“A Celebration of Friendship 3,” the group’s latest show, opened last week at Koi restaurant and gallery in South Jakarta. For every exhibition the group organizes, several friends outside the original eight are invited to contribute pieces.

The Koi exhibition includes the artwork of Kemang 104 as well as nine other female artists with similar interests and a passion to exchange artistic ideas.

Dahlia Sardjono, the elegant and charming owner of a well-known public relations agency in Jakarta, is one of the artists who was asked to join the exhibition. She submitted one painting and three sculptures for “A Celebration of Friendship 3.”

“I started last year, when one of the ladies asked me to join the sculpture sessions,” Dahlia said. “We always meet at Edwin’s Gallery in Kemang, which belongs to one of the members, Listia Rahardjo, and her husband. Depending on the availability of the space and Dolorosa Sinaga, a senior sculptress in Indonesia and our teacher, we meet once or twice a month on Saturdays.”

Dahlia, who has been painting for years picked up sculpture on a whim.

“Ever since I was in junior high school, I have always loved painting,” she said. “And because I always had a passion for art, I thought, why not start learning about sculpture as well? And I became very interested in it. Sometimes, in one session, I can finish up to three sculptures, so that shows how much I like it.”

Dahlia’s exhibition painting, “Entre Temps,” (“Between Time”) depicts a white tree with red branches and leaves against a black canvas. Dahlia, who lived in Brussels for nine years, gives many of her pieces French titles.

While the mother of two has already displayed her paintings at a number of shows in Jakarta this is the first time she has let the public have a look at her sculptures.

Koi employs a sleek and innovative way of displaying the group’s exhibition. Instead of simply placing everything off to one side, the white brick walls are adorned with paintings and the sculptures are placed at the center of the dining tables or on racks, between bottles of wine. Restaurant patrons are free to enjoy their mean and fine art simultaneously.

“If we hold an exhibition in an art gallery it takes a lot of effort for people to go there and see our work,” she said. “This kind of concept [at Koi] is a good way to get people to admire art.”

Dahlia’s statuettes range in color from pink to purple to green and in position are either taking a bow or pointing to the sky. One thing each piece shares is Dahlia’s signature big feet.

“Sometimes I see an ad in a magazine and am inspired by that,” Dahlia said. “But when I turn it into a sculpture, I adjust it and make it my own way. The big feet could become something like my trademark, so people can recognize my work.”

Even though she isn’t a full-time artist Dahlia considers what she does far from a simple hobby.

“It’s not something I just tend to when I have some free time,” Dahlia said.

“I do this almost every night. Actually, deep down inside I’m hoping that maybe one day I can just paint and sculpt. The PR agency is only my way to fulfill that.”