2008 Biennale Jogja ends on a high
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta
The one-month 2008 Biennale Jogja, the ninth edition of the Yogyakarta event dedicated to the visual arts, officially closed Monday evening with the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to senior artists Soedarso Sp and Edhi Sunarso.
This was just the second-ever awards presentation at Biennale Jogja. The first was at the 8th Biennale Jogja in 2005.
“We see this as a dignified way of showing acceptance to someone or some community for achievements which are considered as inspirational to others,” said Suwarno Wisetrotomo, one of the curators for the 2008 Biennale Jogja.
Suwarno said the two artists were honored for their outstanding dedication, creativity and artistic achievements.
According to the awards committee, the 72-year-old Soedarso has shown outstanding dedication, loyalty and achievement in the teaching of visual arts in the country. The 76-year-old Edhi Sunarso has demonstrated the same dedication, loyalty and achievement in the world of sculpture, both nationally and internationally.
“Both figures have given us an important message that achievement, both as an educator and as an artist, requires the strongest commitment …,” Suwarno said.
This year’s exhibition took place at three venues — the Jogja National Museum in Gampingan, the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta cultural center on Jl. Sriwedani Yogyakarta and the Sangkring Arts Space in Nitiprayan, on the southern outskirts of Yogyakarta.
Previous events were held all at the exhibition hall of Taman Budaya Yogyakarta.
“By (having different venues), hopefully, it will enable us to include as many stakeholders as possible in this important event, and thus make it much better in performance as well as in organization in the future,” said the head of Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Dyan Anggraeni Rais.
Biennale Jogja has in the past been roundly criticized, especially for the limited budget provided by the government and poor management of the event.
Source: The Jakarta Post
Add comment January 31st, 2008