Not a bad influence: French graffiti artist known as “RCF1” stands in front of his work.Not a bad influence: French graffiti artist known as “RCF1” stands in front of his work.
Quite often seen as street pests and vandals, young graffiti artists in Jakarta are using the canvas to show what they do is truly art.
Twenty-two young Indonesian street artists collaborated with well-known French graffiti artist RCF1 to create “Surface Activities: L’Art Dans L’espace Urbain”.
The exhibition, which was born from a workshop ran by RCF1 with hand-picked artists from the street-graffiti scene, features a number of works painted on canvas rather than street corners and buildings.
Originally, the workshop was to take place over two days, but RCF1 says the young artists were so dedicated and enthusiastic they were nearly all completed in just one day.
While the urban culture of graffiti is more of a western tradition, these young people felt it was important to let their Jakarta-style show through their art. The exhibition shows the urban street culture of the west is on the rise in Jakarta.
While many of the colors and shadings are just as pristinely conquered as any you might find in Melbourne or Brooklyn, the Jakarta style of graffiti art seems to have a much darker edge, and a greater distinction between light and shade.
Colorful blocks and tags fade into demonic creatures and fear-inspiring blank eyeballs.
Human heads are depicted resting on the ledges of bloody baths, while yellow and purple color schemes sit alongside it on the canvas.
The idyllic tags, or scribbles of an artist’s “street name”, are also featured, making a clear distinction between graffiti as a means to see your name in paint, as well as a means to convey a message.
“Indonesian Pride” can be seen scribbled in the paint, as it is seen on the flags of youth in the street.
The urban culture in the streets is strong, as is the artists’ pride in their country.
Some canvases seem more like comic strips than graffiti, with caricatures depicting Barack Obama and Britney Spears, aliens and police officers.
Urban art: One of the graffiti art pieces featuring in an exhibition at the National Gallery in Jakarta. Twenty-two young Jakartan and French artists are presenting their work.Urban art: One of the graffiti art pieces featuring in an exhibition at the National Gallery in Jakarta. Twenty-two young Jakartan and French artists are presenting their work.
Images of the devil and demonic creatures are quite prevalent, as are images of hantu (ghosts).
“Even though graffiti started in the west, we have our own style we are very proud of. As for technique and ability, RCF1 said we are not lacking when compared to the west, or any country which has had this kind of art form for much longer,” he said.
It is also important to note that these artists are just that: artists, he added.
“These kids are educated, talented artists with a message, they are not vandals.”
For the artists, it is important they convey a style that is uniquely Indonesian, he went on, adding artists were proud of the graffiti art in their own districts, be it Jakarta or Bandung.
The rise of the West: The graffiti artwork shows the urban street culture of the West is on the rise in Jakarta.The rise of the West: The graffiti artwork shows the urban street culture of the West is on the rise in Jakarta.
Well-known Indonesian graffiti artist in Jakarta, AshTwo, said he too liked to display the Indonesian culture in his art, and show the quality of the art here is just as good as anywhere in the west.
He mentioned he had painted a large mural in Singapore in a legal, designated graffiti art area where he depicted the slogan “Indonesian Style” to show off his heritage.
ASHTWO wants to travel all over the world displaying his art, and very much enjoys painting his own name in different colors and fonts.
“I like writing my name and being creative with it. You see your own name up in all those colors, it’s like you’re famous.”
His work is influenced by many “old-school” American artists, but with an Indonesian flair, he commented. He has been a big fan of RCF1 for a great number of years and was very excited at the prospect of working with him.
“I have great respect for him, he has been practicing graffiti art for about 20 years.” When asked if he approved of young artists painting illegally, he replied “maybe”.
“On the street, you make your own rules,” he said.
/FlatStreet/Art hoped the exhibition would inspire young people to be artistic, and to develop an interest in graffiti art, in an artistic rather than vandalistic way.
“It doesn’t have to be on a wall, it doesn’t have to be messy, it can be anywhere you like, be creative, use a canvas,” he said.
“In some countries, graffiti is not art, graffiti is scribble. But here, it is expressing something. It might not be with a brush, but it is paint, and it is an amazing expression of creativity.”
— Photos by Avril Holderness-Roddam
‘Surface Activities: L’art Dans L’espace Urbain’
Until Feb. 10, 2010
National Gallery
Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur
no. 14, Building B
Jakarta