Mella Jaarsma is known for artistic practices that develop around creating sophisticated costumes and playful participations. For decades, the artist has been producing works that engage with social and cultural issues in Indonesia and beyond. I have had the honor to work with Jaarsma occasionally, the one prior to this exhibition was in the Thailand …
continue readingThe presence of all sorts of skin and all types of bodies performs an important part in Mella Jaarsma’s works. But for me, it is the frog skin that comes to my mind when thinking about Mella’s works. I still remember the scene of frog legs being friend in one of Mella’s earliest performance, PribumiPribumi, …
continue readingIt appears indeed to be true that to be able to see and perceive something clearly, humans need contrast and sufficient distance from the object. This appears to also be true in social or cultural domains. Often, our perceptions and intuitions become dull when we view ordinary and routine matters. The eyes of other people …
continue readingWhen art is discussed in context of diaspora and racism one could sense a whiff of political correctness as appropriate subjects are raised by those who have the ‘right’ skin pigmentation. Displacement and dislocation are often seen as experience faced by migrants and oversea workers who have shifted from their home to estranged environs. While …
continue readingAn article of clothing or covering creates a space that humans occupy (from within, inwards) and, at the same time, portrays an image of themselves (outwardly) to the rest of society. We started to clothe ourselves for practical reasons, such as to protect ourselves from harsh weather conditions, and functional reasons, for example, the protective …
continue readingPublished by the Smart Museum, Chicago, 2012 by Stephanie Smith A leading figure within Indonesian art communities, Mella Jaarsma has helped build catalytic cultural institutions: in 1988, she and her husband Nindityo Adipurnomo founded the Cemeti Art House (a key site of creative production, display, and international dialogue within Indonesia) and she also helped launch …
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