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Fourteen curious objects are gathered in the stark space of the SIGIarts Gallery in South Jakarta.

A dress made of braided synthetic hair hanging on angel wings sits by a skull made of silver buttons, joined by a meter-long, twisted-up flip-flop and 12 metallic analog clocks.

The objects, as part of the “Contemporary Archaeology Chapter Two” exhibition, have been brought together to tell us something about the way we live today.

Curator Asmudjo Jono Irianto chose 14 relatively unknown Indonesian artists to show their installations and sculptural works in the second chapter of the exhibition, previously held in 2009.

The participating artists, ranging from 22 to 34 years of age, are just beginning to climb the ladder of artistic prominence through exhibitions such as these.

“We want to promote young artists who can show us a fresh perspective, new artists with good potential,” said Asmudjo, who is also an art lecturer at the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

“Similar to the first exhibition of ‘Contemporary Archeology,’ this exhibition is dominated by objects,” Asmudjo said. “This has to do with the meaning of the term ‘archeology,’ a discipline of knowledge that tries to understand the history of mankind and past societies through an analysis of man-made objects and artifacts.”

The pieces in the exhibition are therefore imbued with a wry sense of social commentary about the contemporary human condition.

The elaborate, technology-driven piece, “Faketorian” by Risa Astrini, consists of two acrylic pieces that represent the masculine and the feminine.

Both artworks feature Victorian motifs, representing the West. The illuminated deer within represent the artist herself.

For the back plate, Risa created a rotating, psychedelic circle embellished with the intricate logo of the Indonesian band Slank, to represent the East.

“I want to criticize people who are social climbers. Eastern people who want to be Western while inside they are still Eastern,” Risa explained.

Rini Maulina, another young artist showcased in the exhibition, used syringes to create a magnificent, glittering chandelier

Titled “The Light of Life,” the piece represents Rini’s personal journey at the time of her mother’s death. Throughout her mother’s fatal illness, the syringe became a familiar object to the young artist.

“In Rini’s work, I see the needles as a positive element, even though her mother eventually passed away in the end,” Asmudjo said.

“We see a needle and it can signify many things, but when configured in this way, they resemble her hope.”

Indrani Ashe’s work ,“Whiteness in Personality Needed,” also uses syringes and needles, but to express a darker vision.

Indrani’s piece consists of a headless, limbless, female form with syringes sticking out of its malformed breasts and bottom. Tiny pearls have been stitched on to cover where the object’s nipples and crotch would be.

The title of the piece is spelled out across the female creature’s body.

The work aims to make a statement about struggling for the feminine ideal: How far would a woman go to become what is considered beautiful?

“With Indrani Ashe’s work, the needles have a dark symbolism. The message can be interpreted to be that to be prettier, to be whiter, you have to hurt yourself by using needles. It’s frightening,” Asmudjo said.

One young artist showing in the exhibition who is sure to capture the attention of curators and collectors alike is Maria Indriasari.

Maria was a relative unknown in art circles before winning the Bandung Contemporary Art Award earlier this year.

Her fabric creation for the exhibition, titled “I Will Fly,” is like a playful take on film director Tim Burton’s kooky characters, a slug-like creature with a red paper windmill sticking out of its button-shaped head.

“The works of the artists in this exhibition do not merely give rise to perceptual sensations, but also stimulate the conceptual and intellectual capacities of the audience. That is what makes their works not merely objects, but art objects,” Asmudjo said.

“‘Contemporary Archeology Chapter Two’ shows that art is more than just installations, sculptures and paintings. It is a commentary on our civilization — past, present and future.”

Contemporary Archeology Chapter Two
Until March 27
SIGIarts Gallery
Jl. Mahakam I, No. 11
Blok M South Jakarta

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