FICTITIOUS REALITY

PENGANTAR

Pameran fotografi yang kita saksikan kali ini merupakan rangkaian akhir dari program residensi seniman asal Australia Wanda Gillespie yang dipilih oleh Galeri Soemardja dari sekian aplikasi yang ditawarkan oleh Asialink. Pada tahun ini, Galeri Soemardja kembali berkesempatan menjadi tuan rumah untuk mengakomodasi program tersebut sebagai wujud kerjasama antar lembaga dan mempererat kerjasama di bidang kesenian.

Selama kurang lebih tiga bulan, Wanda Gillespie bekerja di Galeri Soemardja dan untuk beberapa waktu diselingi kerja pahatan kayu di Jatiwangi Art Factory (Majalengka-Jawa Barat). Selama masa residensi itulah, Wanda mengolah pelbagai gagasan yang kemudian dieksekusi ke dalam karya seni instalasi dan fotografi.

Untuk lebih mempererat interaksi dan komunikasi serta diharapkan bisa membangun diskusi yang produktif, bersamaan dengan program tersebut, Galeri Soemardja secara khusus meminta Wanda menggelar workshop dengan komposisi peserta yang terdiri dari sejumlah mahasiswa Seni Rupa-ITB serta alumni. Workshop bertajuk Fictitious Realities -The ephemeral Idea and the clunky object yang dikerjakan selama kurang-lebih satu minggu itu, dan sepanjang prosesnya, Wanda dibantu oleh Henrycus Napitsunargo yang juga berperan sebagai tutor pendamping pada aspek teknik.

Di dunia seni rupa Indonesia kehadiran fotografi dalam pameran terbilang langka. Dalam setahun, kita bisa menghitung dengan jari pameran-pameran fotografi, itupun dengan catatan bahwa kita tidak menghitung pameran karya-karya fotografi salon. Di dalam tempo setahun itu pula, kita jumpai karya fotografi tersisip di pameran-pameran bersama seniman.

Oleh karena itu, pameran Fictitious Realites ini layak dicatat sebagai pameran yang berupaya mengisi kelangkaan tersebut. Dengan keyakinan itu pula Galeri Soemardja percaya kalau pameran hasil workshop ini banyak faedahnya untuk mahasiswa menambah pengalaman artistik sekaligus belajar menguji gagasan-gagasannya dihadapan publik.

Aminudin TH. Siregar
Galeri Soemardja

FOREWORD

This photography exhibition is the final part of the Artist Residency Programme hosting an Australian artist named Wanda Gillespie who was chosen by Galeri Soemardja from many eligible applicants offered by Asialink. This year, Galeri Soemardja is honored to have another opportunity to be the host of this programme as a form of collaborative work between institutions in order to strengthen the relationships, especially in the field of art.

Wanda Gillespie has been working at Galeri Soemardja for almost three months while doing some wood carvings at Jatiwangi Art Factory in Majalengka, West Java. During her residency period, Wanda has explored various ideas which were transformed into artwork in the forms of an installation and photography.

To strengthen the interaction and communication hoping to lead to productive discussions related to this programme, Galeri Soemardja specially asked Wanda to hold a workshop involving some students and alumni from The Faculty of Fine Art and Design ITB. The theme of this one-week workshop is Fictitious Realities -The Ephemeral Idea and the Clunky Object, of which was assisted by Henrycus Napitsunargo as the tutor in charge of technical-related matters throughout the process.

The presence of photography in the world of art is somewhat scarce. In a year, photography exhibitions can be easily counted by the numbers of fingers on one hand, noting that ‘salon photography’ is not included. In addition, during the one year period, we would also find some photographic work is slipped in many art exhibitions.

In response to this situation, this Fictitious Realities exhibition should be documented as an exhibition which is hoped to fill the empty space of such rarity. Galeri Soemardja strongly believes that the final outcome of this workshop would be useful for the students to gain further experience in exploring their artistic sense, and also to put their ideas to the test for the public consumption.


Aminudin TH. Siregar
Galeri Soemardja