Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Fri, 11/07/2008 10:52 AM  |  Bali

Three young artists have collaborated on a giant mural that underlines their multi-interpretive nature in an exhibit tiled, “Open Daily”, held at Biasa Art Space in Seminyak, Kuta.

The mural, titled “All is Open”, is 12 x 2.5 meters and is comprised of various materials, including fluorescence bulbs and used cardboard.

The painters scribbled several sentences on the work, including “Akh, itu khan hanya persepsi anda” (Well, it is just your perception) on one corner.

The sentence aptly describes the aesthetic notion that the artists — Samuel Indratma, Arya Pandjalu and Farhan Siki — aimed to show: an artwork that would stimulate various interpretations from observers.

“The mural opens up numerous meanings for the observer. We want them to interpret the work in their own ways,” Farhan Siki said.

The mural reflects the diverse methods and esthetic explorations favored by each artist, without descending into a fragmented display of difference.

Completed in two weeks, the work clearly demonstrates the artists’ ability to rise above their differences and create a single, unified esthetic expression.

Their ability to juxtapose and extrapolate on each other’s work and tone is testament to the fact that, despite these differences, the three have worked as a single creative force.

“That’s why it is entitled All is Open. In fact, we still consider it as an ongoing project, which is still open for any addition or reduction from any of us,” Siki added.

To an extent, the artists have conducted a purposeful deconstruction of both the individual nature of contemporary art as well as the increasingly hegemonic role of the critic and the curator as sole provider of interpretation.

The mural is proof that a collectively-created art work can still evoke a strong sense of appreciation and that observers of the arts can come up with their own interpretation without assistance from critics or curators.

As evidence, “Have No Curator” is scribbled in one of Siki’s works.

“We deliberately didn’t involve any curator in the preparation of the exhibit. We want to be as free as possible in creating and presenting our artwork,” Siki said.

A similar spirit of rebellion was also presented by Samuel Indratma. He arranged his displayed works in a fashion akin to that of the street vendor. He said it was his way of capturing the reality that poor people had to deal with daily.

“I construct the spatial arrangement of the works in a similar fashion to and psychological anxiety of the street vendor as they arrange their merchandise, with the full realization that the law could arrive at any moment and evict them from their spot,” Samuel said.

Arya Pandjalu presented works that captured the environmental destruction caused by irresponsible humans. One of them was a model truck cramped with bird’s carcasses titled, “This little bird went to market, this little one stayed at home.”

The three artists are former members of Apotik Komik, a fine art movement in Yogyakarta. “Open Daily” runs until Nov. 12.