CANBERRA.- Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia opened at the National Gallery of Australia on Friday, showcasing the work of 20 of Indonesia’s most exciting emerging and established artists.

The first major Australian exhibition to put a spotlight on artists working in 21st Century Indonesia, the artists give voice to an exploration of topics ranging from sexuality, gender roles and family, to environmental concerns, the art market, new materials and forms, the everyday object and how we might listen to and learn from the sounds of Indonesia.

“Art provides a meaningful and compelling way for Australian audiences to learn about and understand one of our most important neighbours, Indonesia,” said National Gallery Director Nick Mitzevich.

“This collection of work from some of Indonesia’s most dynamic artists is a captivating and profound manifestation of the transformation Indonesia has undergone in the past 20 years.

Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia features recent works and large-scale commissions and builds on the National Gallery’s commitment to a strong collection of Asian art, which began under the guidance of inaugural director James Mollison.

“Many of the works are being acquired for Australia’s national collection and will provide a critical resource of current Indonesian art to be further researched, shared and published into the future,” Mr Mitzevich said.

Asian Art Senior Curator Carol Cains said contemporary Indonesian artists were pushing the boundaries to explore and re-examine histories, political issues and social developments.

“Each of the artists have been inspired by their personal experience of places and spaces, and their works connect to both past and contemporary representations of Indonesia,” Ms Cains said.

The myriad of voices in modern Indonesia play an important role in how audiences will experience Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia.

“In the changing soundscape of the 21st Century, artists provide us with a new awareness of how we individually and collectively hear, interpret, shape and share our contemporary worlds,” said Senior Curator Contemporary Art Jaklyn Babington.

Jointly curated by the National Gallery’s Asian Art and Contemporary Art curatorial teams, the exhibition is a significant cross-cultural initiative involving numerous Australian and Indonesian experts, particularly collaborating curators Alia Swastika, Enin Supriyanto, Dr Agung Hujatnikajennong and Grace Samboh. The Gallery is also grateful to the inter-institutional curatorial team that shared their expert knowledge to bring the project together – Dr Caroline Turner, Dr Chaitanya Sambrani andDr Elly Kent, from the Australian National University; Mikala Tai, Director Gallery 4A, Sydney; and Christine Clarke, National Portrait Gallery.

The exhibition includes painting, sculpture, installation, moving image, photography and textile, and features a performance program and a film series curated by renowned Indonesian film director Garin Nugroho.

Highlights include the Australian premiere of Transaction of Hollows, a thrilling durational performance by Melati Suryodarmo, Uji (Hahan) Handoko Eko Saputro’s neon exploration of the machinations of the contemporary art market in collaboration with Adi ‘Uma Gumma’ Kusuma, and a suite of Zico Albaiquni’s vibrant paintings specially created for the exhibition.

Exhibiting artists in Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia are: Zico Albaiquni, Akiq AW, Febie Babyrose, Faisal Habibi, Herbert Hans, Duto Hardono, FX Harsono, Ruddy Hatumena, Mella Jaarsma, Adi ‘Uma Gumma’ Kusuma, Jompet Kuswidananto, MES 56, I Gusti Ayu Kadek (IGAK) Murniasih, Eko Nugroho, Garin Nugroho, Octora, Yudha ‘Fehung’ Kusuma Putera, Tita Salina, Tisna Sanjaya, Handiwirman Saputra, Uji ‘Hahan’ Handoko Eko Saputro, Albert Yonathan Setyawan, Melati Suryodarmo, Agus Suwage, Julian Abraham ‘Togar’, Tromarama, I Made Wiguna Valasara and Entang Wiharso.