Meet Museum MACAN, The First Contemporary Art Museum in Indonesia

Meet Museum MACAN, The First Major Contemporary Art Museum in Indonesia That Will Be Opened for Public in November

(3/12) The art world of Indonesia has been abuzz for quite some time after The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum MACAN) first announced their establishment. The museum will display approximately 90 artworks by Indonesian and international prominent artists whose works have rarely or even never been shown to the public. Those artists are Raden Saleh, S. Sudjojono, FX Harsono, Arahmaiani, Robert Rauschenberg, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat among many others. These artworks belong to the collection of museum founder, Haryanto Adikoesoemo that spans over 800 pieces and derives from the work of over 70 artists. The exhibition titled “Art Turns. Worl Turn. Exploring the Collection of Museum MACAN” is co-curated by Charles Esche and Agung Hujatnika. The team behind this exhibition has been working hard to make the exhibition comes true and offers a one of a kind experience that will educate and introduce the art enthusiasts and general public about the notion behind the artworks.

The exhibition presents a historical narrative that spans two centuries and offers a reading of Indonesian art history in dialogue with world art history.  “Museum MACAN’s inaugural exhibition examines Indonesia’s art history in the context of the world, and highlights the breadth and depth of the collection of the museum’s founder, Mr. Haryanto Adikoesoemo,” said Aaron Seeto, Director of Museum MACAN. “This exhibition along with the complementary public programs we are designing—demonstrates our commitment to providing a platform for Indonesian and international artists alike, and to fostering cross-cultural exchange.” After becoming a passionate art collector in the last twenty-five years, Haryanto Adikoesoemo has expanded his view on both Indonesian and international modern and contemporary art. The exhibition itself will be divided into four thematic sections which will connect the art in each period to the relevant social political movements. Those sections are Land, Home, People; Independence and After; Struggles around The Form; and The Global Soup.

These sections ranging from the 1800s era to the present, highlight Dutch Colonialism in Indonesia, Independence Era in Indonesia, along with Pop Art from America and Europe, Political Pop and Cynical Realism from China, Superflat and Mona-ha from Japan, and Dansaekhwa from Korea. This museum will ensure the visitors the utmost comfort of gallery viewing as it is situated in a new 4,000-square-meter (43,000-square-foot) building with the addition of 2,000 square meters (21,528 square feet) of exhibition galleries.It also has a 500-square-meter (5,382-square-foot) indoor sculpture garden, and a designated education zone. Museum MACAN is located at AKR Tower in Kebon Jeruk Jakarta and occupies the fifth floor. It’s a must see destination for modern and contemporary art enthusiasts and make sure you attend its first public opening on Tuesday, 7 November 2017. Head to their social media here for the latest updates.