Art Moments Jakarta 2024 has infused the city's art scene with a renewed sense of energy, inviting the public to engage more deeply with art. This year's theme, "Renewal," encouraged artists and galleries to explore five key dimensions of renewal: personal transformation, social rejuvenation, environmental sustainability, artistic innovation, and technological advancements. This comprehensive theme offered a platform for exploring how renewal shapes various aspects of life and art, making the event a significant cultural milestone.

A Dynamic Celebration of Renewal

The event opened with a captivating performance by Heri Dono, a pioneering Indonesian artist who broke into the global art scene in the early 1990s. Dono's unique performance art served as a pointed critique of Indonesia's New Order regime, delivering a powerful message through his movements. "We are thrilled to bring Art Moments Jakarta back to the heart of the city, providing a dynamic platform for galleries and artists to explore the multifaceted theme of ‘Renewal,’” said Dr. Sendy Widjaja, Co-Founder and Fair Director. Adding to this, Sudjud emphasized, “This event is designed to inspire, challenge, and celebrate all forms of renewal, fostering a deeper understanding of transformation and growth in personal, social, and environmental contexts.”

Sustainability at the Core

Aligning with the theme of “Renewal” and the commitment to environmental sustainability, Art Moments Jakarta 2024 is evolving into a more eco-friendly art fair. The exhibition featured short-term strategies like using low-emission materials and long-term plans for sustainable booth designs. The event also encouraged the entire art community to adopt low-carbon practices and contribute to significant environmental changes by reporting emissions, setting goals, forming green teams, and committing to substantial environmental progress. “As part of our commitment to promoting an eco-friendly art market, we used recycled panels to reduce wood usage, thereby mitigating deforestation. Additionally, we utilized energy-efficient LED lighting, significantly reducing carbon emissions,” explained Sendy.

Art in a Social Context

Art Moments Jakarta 2024 curated a diverse array of works, ranging from paintings and sculptures to multimedia installations, providing visitors with a rich tapestry of artistic perspectives and styles. Interactive installations invited visitors to engage directly with the art, creating a more personal and immersive experience that bridged the gap between art and audience. Panel discussions with artists, curators, and art experts offered deep insights into the creative process, the challenges of the art industry, and the significance of art in addressing social issues. Many of the exhibited works highlighted crucial themes such as environmental concerns, identity, and social justice, reflecting the artists' social responsibility and their role in driving change.

A Global Dialogue on Art

The exhibition was held at the Grand Ballroom of Sheraton Grand Jakarta Gandaria City and Gandaria City Hall from August 9-11, 2024. The well-organized venue and spacious layout allowed visitors to appreciate the artworks in a calm and comfortable environment. The strategic design of the exhibition optimized visitor flow, ensuring that all artworks were presented in the best possible light. Overall, Art Moments Jakarta 2024 succeeded in creating an inspiring and profound experience for visitors while advancing the global dialogue on art and its role in society.

A Unique Opening Performance

This year's opening of Art Moments Jakarta was marked by an extraordinary performance by Heri Dono, the eccentric artist from Yogyakarta. He commenced the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a thought-provoking performance art piece on Friday, August 9, 2024. Set against a backdrop of gamelan music and the flashing lights of projectors, Dono delivered an energetic performance, embodying a puppeteer who chanted contemporary verses.

Instead of reciting traditional macapat poetry, Dono declaimed maskumambang with unique phrases. His verses, although seemingly full of critique, stimulated thought among the audience. At times, Dono parodied authoritarian behavior, resembling robots brainwashed by fascism. His piece, titled The Journey of Dinosaurs to Superheroes, was a performance that played with words and sounds, alternating between being both puppeteer and puppet on stage. "Democracy...Democrazy. We are in crisis. Democracy has become democrazy. Humanity...Human, human, human... Human Yeti... Crazy times... Serat Kalatidha... Civilization," he exclaimed, pacing like a cyborg witnessing a world in turmoil.

The 30-minute performance also saw Dono acting as a walking human installation, with his body adorned with various electronic-mechanical devices that moved, lit up, and occasionally made sounds. A mannequin head with a Pinocchio mask swung above his own, delivering a satirical yet veiled message. Despite the lack of a clear narrative, Dono captivated the audience, holding their attention with his short, jumping chants that evoked meaningful associations filled with criticism, questions, and deep reflection.

Evolution and Cultural Critique

After the performance, Heri Dono explained that his work was a response to the evolution of human DNA alongside advancements in science and technology. He highlighted the connection between these changes and the ancient memory of the universe. Dono emphasized that as these changes occur, humanity also faces an ever-changing natural reality. Some attribute these changes to weather and climate, while others believe they happen systematically.

“Often, cultural events are purely for entertainment. This time, I wanted to bring a more essential human message. For instance, dinosaurs, often seen as ancient icons, or traditional art, which is no less noble than modern or contemporary art. I think these need to be reevaluated. This includes superheroes who often kill their enemies brutally, which is no different from criminals,” he said.

From an artistic perspective, the blending of traditional and modern elements in this performance sought to reevaluate the notion of a civilization's greatness from a non-Western viewpoint. Dono argued that the European Enlightenment was also an accumulation of civilizations from the East, such as Persia, India, Egypt, and possibly Southeast Asia.

Based on these premises, Heri Dono suggested that post-colonial countries need to stand tall once again, as they possess high cultures that are no less significant than those of the past, countering the inferiority and self-doubt that have persisted. “If we study modern art, I believe it doesn't have to come from the Western Renaissance, but it can also stem from the rise of Ukiyo-e or Japanese woodcut techniques that influenced Vincent van Gogh, or Picasso's Cubist works inspired by African masks,” he concluded.