At D’Peak opening night, August 7, 2009, held the exhibition titled Up & Hope featuring approximately 180 art works of painting, sculpture, and installation of various generations of Indonesian artists. Visitors were coming from in and outside Jakarta. New building, as if to mark a new enthusiasm. Previously, this building is the show room. But the owner, Ang Andi Bintoro, juggle it up to art gallery. Ang Andi accompanied by one of the managers D’Peak, Raymond Lukman, and Denny Bintoro, one of Ang Andi’s children who also loves art, answer a few Arti questions. The following excerpt of the interview.
Why did you set up D ‘Peak art space?
You are not the first questioner. People who ask are confused, for what makes the gallery for this? And this is a much coveted gallery for the artists. It is able to accommodate a lot of works. We do all this things because we felt compelled to participate and assist the principals of art in the country. This is our effort to show support.
Is it not enough to establish D’Peak?
We operate D’Peak in Singapore since mid-2008, and has held three exhibitions. We believe, galleries in Singapore that could be used as a stone leap for Indonesian artists to introduce themselves to the international world. Later, October 11, 2009, we will also bring Indonesian artists to Seoul, South Korea. We are currently selecting a few artists of quality and talent to bring to it.
Things like that have been done by a lot of parties. Could you tell the different strategies, and convince many people?
I want to say, that we have the spirit. That is the basic capital required. We hope to participate to transmit the spirit of many parties, especially to the artists. Of course we are thinking of various strategies. What is clear, we are building a network with other galleries in Singapore, and with the Singapore National Museum. At least Singapore will be the right bridge. Then we will turn to Korea, then America, then Europe.
Are you so sure of our artwork accepted internationally?
So far, we have a lot of artists who are known outside the country. But it needs more. Promotions should be promoted. We had been colonized hundreds of years by the Dutch, and many Dutch people know the art of our culture. Well, to go to Europe, we have the capital in which Dutch society already knows us.
Can you imagine what kind of work will be accepted?
Diverse. At least, that exhibited at the Up & Hope for the grand opening of D’Peak, are the works that I think can be accepted and appreciated by the public from the outside. Not just limited to paintings, but also works that have often classified into the craft. After all, craft now included as a work of art. And our artists can be called all-round to produce good work, and technically strong in the theme.
Anyway, how you initially come into contact with art?
Three years I come into contact with the art world. I see a lot of artists to work unconditionally, from morning till late at night, or from early morning till evening. But they feel difficult to communicate their works. Well, from there I was compelled to help. I began by collecting the work of young artists (age-ed). Because they have a hope that is still long.
Is it because there is investing value? Exploring time. My third child and fourth also loved art works. I was worry, in the family no one loves art, because later I’m busy myself. Apparently they are more thicker than me. So I felt there are friends who are equally loved art at home. Now, I am getting a lot of time studying fine art from books and catalogues, ask around, and watch exhibitions in several places.
Raymond Lukman added:
Before three years Mr. Andi explore art as mentioned earlier, Mr. Andi did travelling a lot. In his busyness, he took time to watch the art event. Barriers were due to busyness. So in quotation marks, Pak Andi then more precisely referred to as “observers”. After that, Mr. Andi often held discussions with several artists.
Even the discussion got around to marketing problems, for example by looking at the work of artists through the catalogue, can be discussed patterns or characteristics of certain artwork suitable if promoted to a regional one, or to another regional.
Denny Bintoro:
One of the art capital in New York is the Chelsea area. I see there are contemporary arts from America, Japan, China, but none from Indonesia. I said to my father, why works of art in Indonesia did not exist in Chelsea? According to him, the work of Indonesian artists have great potential and could appear there. But they have not been promoted yet. I got to thinking, how can a gallery there that can display Indonesian artworks.
I hear, you spend Rp12 billion to achieve D’Peak?
More than that. Even for the building alone is expensive. When unfolded, the building area of more than 3,000 square meters. If calculated with the work purchased, approximately 50 billion.
What do you consider when diverting half of the invesment to art?
Well, life is just so-so, but the art seemed to give meaning and comfort to the mind. I was going to retire. I feel the need to do something more fun to mind. Then my son (pointing to Denny) who takes college in America, is a frequent visitor to the gallery there, and he likes works of art. He said, he would go back to the country if he is given a gallery. So, I made it.
How can artists get involved in exhibition at D’Peak?
Later we will have a permanent curator, and a guest curator. We also work with a curator from outside who are ready to help D’Peak. The curator was later on that will determine the rules. But clearly, we are open.
Are you sure you will reach D’Peak’s goal?
I have to be. But I think government support is needed. In China, the Ministry of Tourism is often organize art events, in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzou, and in other cities. Artists and visitors from various countries arriving. That is increasing tourism. Hopefully with the presidential election yesterday, and the composition of the new cabinet, our government more open awareness that art event organized with international scale is one strategy to increase tourism.
What kind of government support that is expected?
Answered by Raymond: Our government should organize art biennale and fair, then the principle of G[overnment] to G[overnment], our government invites other governments to participate in art events held in our country. If the invitation G to G, it is very possible that the government will appoint other participating artists. If the artists invited by private parties individually, not necessarily the artists of other countries want to come, and when artists from other countries did not participate, not necessarily collectors from other countries that want to come.
The government can also issue recommendations for the fiscal exemption. Artists from outside would not be coming to the event in our country if the work they bring here should be taxable. In theory, there are rules to release fiscal. But in practice, our bureaucracy is too complicated. If you want it quickly, bring out your money, too. A pretty good example in dealing with this art event is the Singapore government. Our government must take a comparative study to Singapore.
What do you imagine when returned to Indonesia?
Denny Bintoro: I think Indonesia is very potential. I see from the side of the building alone, private galleries and our wide-area, instead of America’s which are small. I see the characteristics of works of art in Indonsia very diverse. What we are lacking in the website. A website is to show our face world wide. One strategy that should be built in the campaign is to build networking via the internet more intensively.
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