0.1
Historical Briefs
and Curatorial Process

by Rifky Effendy
This essay is a revision from the pre-catalogue of the first WEARABLE Exhibition.

Rifky Effendy, the Wearable Tour Exhibition Curator.

Back to Up...^

As many incidents happen in Indonesia
nowadays, involuntarily, a big question appears: how can this country ensure people's personal security? If we notice the increase of the criminality done-thoroughly or hidden-by common people or certain organizations, we can not rely ourselves on the law and its institutions anymore . It is possibly happen at any moment: a man aim his weapon to us in the crowd and bring a loss to any individuals, and the most tragic fact is that the victim couldn't do anything.

It is a matter of fact that today in Indonesia,
when someone performs a creativity - which used
to be meaningless - it could possibly become extraordinary because common people accept it as ' a solution '. A person became media star as he modified a foodstuffs from manioc into kind of staple food that can substitute rice (which has an unreachable expense). The same case also happened when a creative engineer in Bandung, named Simon, created and produced his 'anti-rape corsets' . His creations have been sold in a great numbers, especially when the May tragedy happened, therefore he had an sensational publicity from the mass media. In addition to that, it is quite similar when some texts (written on papers or boards) such as "milik pribumi" (belongs to indigenous), "muslim pribumi" (indigenous Moslems), "milik haji anu" (belongs to a hajji), or "pro reformasi" (pro reform) have became 'the saviors' for common people in facing the mass anarchy . Those cases depict a society whom is facing the future through a pessimistic point amid crisis, a mistrust in the existing systems.

The idea of presenting this "Wearable"
exhibition has been constructed through an observation of artworks, in their relation within some recent actual social problems, particularly in the common society's livelihood. 'Wearable' possibly means 'something that capable of being worn' . Indeed, this subject is usually well-known in particular discourses of fashion, garments or other instances associated to human body. Nevertheless, in my interpretation, 'wearable' essentially deals with the meaning of protection, self confidence and self identity . As an illustration, if someone wears a silk dress, she feels a kind of smoothness thoroughly touch her skin; and psychologically, she feels comfortable and 'free to move'. Hence, she will also feel proud because the lovely silk has been well-worn and enchanted her appearance. However, such meaning of 'wearable' also depends absolutely on the elements of place, time and minds. Someone have to consider about who herself is, or where and when she should wear a silk dress. It is similar to the case of Mr. Simon's protecting corset mentioned, such illustration will only refer to some specific circumstances. His product represents a misgiving within particular people regarding a nation social situation which is flaring terribly. Nowadays, contemporary art discourses has indicated a plural symptom . The universal values (so-called modernism) built by the Euroamerican society has been considered ignoring the local contents, particularly some traditional value within the country. The white color has not been merely regarded as the meaning of pureness. Black color doesn't have to mean 'dark'. Contemporary art has shown more various issues. Contemporary artworks have became an illustration of minds or problems of a nation, frequently called as representation. Many issues of religion, sex, gender, environment, history, politic and so on, are often expressed in contemporary art. Many new creations of media, such as: television, computer, space satellite and the Internet-which support the world information order-possibly give an understanding about the value of a country.

This exhibition involved some Indonesian and foreign artists from Australia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Holland. Foreign artists' participation were included in order to bring a wider perspective -through their work--about the value of function, or what I mentioned as 'wearable' that has a very wide meaning, and particularly in the context of the sociopolitical and cultural condition . The settlement is also done to further study of a wider forum of contemporary art.

The selection process of artist has been done in several approaches. Firstly, that is an observation I made on artists' earlier works, which always comprise some functional aspects, this has included: Astari Rasjid, Choi Jeong Hwa and Mongkol Plienbangchang. Secondly, I made an observation on artists' manner of expression which responds to reality/actuality, this has included Ghani Ruswandi, W. Christiawan, Mella Jaarsma, Minako Saitoh and Midori Hirota. I have also observed on the artworks' expression, which included Alexandra J. Wuisan, David Sequeira and Frances Alleblas. And the fourth reason is because artists' intention to the curatorial theme, especially Damon Moon and Park Hye-Sung.

Most of artists have lived or stayed in a
residency in Indonesia . Midori Hirota lives in Bali until recently; Frances Alleblas-a Rotterdam artists-has stayed in Bandung for few months; Mongkol Plienbangchang from Thailand has been involved in a workshop in Bandung; Damon Moon and David Sequeira have also been involved in touring exhibition in Yogyakarta, Bandung and Ubud (moreover, Damon was an artists in residence in Yogyakarta); Minako Saitoh and Choi Jeong-Hwa met me in Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan; meanwhile Park Hye-Sung was recommended by Choi.

The curatorial process of "Wearable" was occupied since November 1998 , began by uttering thoroughly a brief curatorial to some artists, also via e-mail and facsimile. This recent artists list is indeed quite different with those I selected before. Some artists didn't respond my offer. Perhaps, they are not interested with my curatorial concept, besides because our limited funds, their busy jobs and the distance between us. Nevertheless, some unlisted artists asserted to get involve, because they were interested in my curatorial. And the most important thing in this curatorial process is correspondence , especially with some artists outside Bandung and abroad. The curatorial rationale is the most frequent case uttered , beside some technical matters such as: schedule and the works' dispatch. However, there is an interesting experience, when Damon Moon realized his idea in a form of drawing, I offered him to perform concrete objects and finally he was agree with me. The peci's expense is borne by himself.

"Wearable" is an exhibition planned for a touring project . This project was planned to be held until the year of 2000 or 2001 . "Wearable" will not present same works of the same artists. "Wearable" will involved other different artists, and will be increased at some different places to gain new ideas, so that the meaning or the theme will be expanded in certain perspective. "Wearable" will be held in Yogyakarta and Ubud, and if it is possible, the exhibition will also reach other cities in abroad , such as: Australia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South-Korea and so on. Hopefully.

Bandung 1st April 1999