Rented a small fast scooter 'Honda 125cc'
Artist in Residency 2 march -19 april / Kersan Art Studio
A year ago, I met the resident Indonesian artist colleague Awang, who I know from a former theater project where we both as artist was a part of. He asked me if I would like to be Artist in Residency in Indonesia in the city of Yogyakarta 'Kersan Art Studio' he had contact with Kersan Foundation.
It sounded really exciting. After the stay as Artist in Residency, I would be able to take on my Motorcycle Journey no. 7 - around in Indonesia. Year 2009, I made actually a 4 week MC.Journey around Indonesia also starting from the city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java a on Bali (see my Blog Archive 2010 February). A stunningly beautiful and very different trip than the 4 MC.Journey I have done in different parts of India.
I do not know yet how my motorbike Journey this time will be. I again must focus on revisiting Bali, which does not really represent the Indonesian Muslim Culture.
Indonesia consists of six main islands and 13 677 smaller islands. Only 3,000 of these islands are inhabited. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago with 250 mil. pop. Where 86% are Muslim, 10% Christian, 2% Hindus - especially in Bali, 1% Buddhists. Rubber is the country's main export product, other important crops are rice, bananas, coffee and coconuts.
Indonesia covers only 1.3 %. of the Earth's surface, but a region with great natural variation of flora and fauna. 10% of the Earth's flowering plants, 17% of the birds, 12% of the mammals, and 16% of its reptiles and amphibians are represented in Indonesia.
Yogyakarta is a small city with only 400,000 inhabitants. If Jakarta with 10 mil. pop. Is Java's financial and industrial powerhouse, is Yogyakarta its spiritual soul and is said to be the most active and dynamic city in Indonesia within the various art movements.
Yogyakarta is a small city with only 400,000 inhabitants. If Jakarta with 10 mil. pop. Is Java's financial and industrial powerhouse, is Yogyakarta its spiritual soul and is said to be the most active and dynamic city in Indonesia within the various art movements.
Artist in Residency
My residency is organized such that I'm the first 3 weeks contacts various Indonesian sculptor colleagues, looking at materials and various workshops. Through this dialogue, I hope to be inspired by their visual cultural language. The final sculpted partial elements for the installation will I, with the help of an assistant make finished within 4 weeks.
I have prepared myself culturally and artistically as well as it was possible for me before departure, as it is a great artistic challenge, after only three weeks of residency, to create an installation. But it will be a great satisfaction to finish with a concrete exhibition.
Kersan Art Studio provides a three-week exhibition period and an assistant in the entire building phase. Otherwise I stand even for all the cost of materials, travel and daily expenses.
I have prepared myself culturally and artistically as well as it was possible for me before departure, as it is a great artistic challenge, after only three weeks of residency, to create an installation. But it will be a great satisfaction to finish with a concrete exhibition.
Kersan Art Studio provides a three-week exhibition period and an assistant in the entire building phase. Otherwise I stand even for all the cost of materials, travel and daily expenses.
Kersan Art Studio is located on the edge of Yogyakarta in a little rural setting. But there are not more than 5 km. into the tourist area where the good restaurants are.
Unfortunately, I have not received any financial support for this Indonesian residency and my last major Installation project 'Requiem' was twice as expensive as budgeted. The installation required a lot compressor power and adaptation, to get the coolant pressure through the more than 160 m. Copper to form the beautiful white ice crystals on the pipes. I am therefore forced to keep the cost of materials and technical assistance far below.
Unfortunately, I have not received any financial support for this Indonesian residency and my last major Installation project 'Requiem' was twice as expensive as budgeted. The installation required a lot compressor power and adaptation, to get the coolant pressure through the more than 160 m. Copper to form the beautiful white ice crystals on the pipes. I am therefore forced to keep the cost of materials and technical assistance far below.
Ice Crystals
'Requiem' Solbjerg Southern Cemetery Chapel/ Copenhagen 2013
See also my www.BvHHS.com
It is a challenge to try to find and use cheap materials like Indonesians uses in everyday life.
This exhibition project should preferably come from an inner need that would express and create some visual images in a dialogue with the outside world. Creating art has for me been an inner necessity, a kind of vital expression. A purifying process of dialogue, a passion, my personal psychologist. For why else would I repeatedly get involved in a major new exhibition project which again cost me much money. But it cost a psychologist too.
It is interesting to test whether my approach to the visual language, can hit the Indonesian soul.
This exhibition project should preferably come from an inner need that would express and create some visual images in a dialogue with the outside world. Creating art has for me been an inner necessity, a kind of vital expression. A purifying process of dialogue, a passion, my personal psychologist. For why else would I repeatedly get involved in a major new exhibition project which again cost me much money. But it cost a psychologist too.
It is interesting to test whether my approach to the visual language, can hit the Indonesian soul.
Director Nissak
Artistic thoughts
I have now for many years worked with the idea and contextual based installation projects that address visual literary time and space while my previous installations were more sculptural, where I explored the sculptural visual expression mental and physical placement in time relative to the outer and interior space. -
In my artistic process of dialogue between the conscious philosophical, technological and aesthetic - and the unconscious mental and spiritual, I have over the years used different technological and sculptural techniques in my preparation and use of organic and inorganic materials have construction and deconstruction as properties such as coal, gas flames, ice and oil in order to visualize the basic contrasts like life and death, light and darkness, where process and transformation from one state to another is a fundamental part of my artistic expression. In this way, the viewer is not only a spectator, but gets involved both physically and mentally.
In my artistic process of dialogue between the conscious philosophical, technological and aesthetic - and the unconscious mental and spiritual, I have over the years used different technological and sculptural techniques in my preparation and use of organic and inorganic materials have construction and deconstruction as properties such as coal, gas flames, ice and oil in order to visualize the basic contrasts like life and death, light and darkness, where process and transformation from one state to another is a fundamental part of my artistic expression. In this way, the viewer is not only a spectator, but gets involved both physically and mentally.
Art must be sensed and experienced and fill one with wonder
My knowledge of Indonesia's Islamic culture and symbolic language is limited, therefore it has been incredibly difficult, based on some simple photos of Kersan Art Studio that could relate to the site and be artistically inspired.
From experience I know that I suddenly not get a brilliant idea, but the idea slow born and shaped in time and space. Therefore it was important to create some sketches and process some visual symbolic because ideas that had opportunities to be developed further before I came here to Yogyakarta.
Most of idea sketches is directly inspired by my own earlier sketches. The sketches and symbolic ideas visualize and express some of the thoughts and ideas I had, way back when I started the visualize and verbally to flesh out my thoughts on art.
'Art should not be understood, can not be understood, it must be sensed and experienced and fill one with wonder'.
To one of my earliest installations Signal Elements / Copenhagen in 1984, I wrote this press text:I have called the exhibition Signal-Elements, because I view my sculptures as signals from the
irrational world. The luminescent red makes my signals more striking, like in
the rational technological world where red means ”alert”.
The elements
are emitting signals – they communicate without words through their form,
colours, material and relation to each other. They don't need to be understood
rationally but only to be seen and experienced.
The for me, irrational symbolic Circle is artistic becoming complete.
Signal Elements / Galleri Kongo / Copenhagen 1984
I have been deeply involved from day 1
The flight of a total of 27 hours. Yogyakarta, with 3 connecting flight went really well, despite the fact that I only slept a ½ hours. But the transition here to Yogyakarta humid heat has taken some getting used to. So first after 6 days I felt again a little on top.
From the time I arrived, I have been deeply concerned with my exhibition project. Along with Nissak, a young friendly smiling dynamic and open-minded administrator of the gallery, I have been driving around on a rented small fast scooter after her on her scooter.
In Yogyakarta area, I have seen Bamboo, jars, Farmer tools, Pigments, Rope, Wheels and dripping taps.
I have decided to create 3 Installations
Based on the idea sketches I made before I left, I have been inspired by the craftsmanship and production places I have visited. My resolve concept for this exhibition project has been to use bamboo and clay in the form of jars and bowls.
I have decided to create three installations instead of just the one during my stay Residency. I had agreed only to create a large outdoor installation to the beautiful large pergola at 8x8 m.
The 3 installations I have decided to create is in good dialogue with each other and underlines my basic theme. It is not technically complicated installations, as many of my previous installations. Economics and time they will be realistic to do.- I'm still a born optimist.
I have been to some openings with Nissak and have talked with some local artists who have passed by Kersan Art Studio, so I've been socially active. But I have not really been in some studio visits that I actually had thought would be my inspirational starting point. It is through the Internet, I've got the best insight about modern Indonesian Art.
Right from the start I realized that to create thoughtful Installations I 100% believe in artistically require that I use the visual language I have developed. I can not possibly combine two cultural language and succeed in only 3 weeks.
I have decided to create three installations instead of just the one during my stay Residency. I had agreed only to create a large outdoor installation to the beautiful large pergola at 8x8 m.
The 3 installations I have decided to create is in good dialogue with each other and underlines my basic theme. It is not technically complicated installations, as many of my previous installations. Economics and time they will be realistic to do.- I'm still a born optimist.
I have been to some openings with Nissak and have talked with some local artists who have passed by Kersan Art Studio, so I've been socially active. But I have not really been in some studio visits that I actually had thought would be my inspirational starting point. It is through the Internet, I've got the best insight about modern Indonesian Art.
Right from the start I realized that to create thoughtful Installations I 100% believe in artistically require that I use the visual language I have developed. I can not possibly combine two cultural language and succeed in only 3 weeks.
Rice field seen from my terrace
From my terrace, I look out on a rice field
One of Awangs artist friends Fauzi, has offered me to stay in his house here in Yogyakarta. Normally, he resides in Lichtenstein with his family. His house is just 1.5 km. away from Kersan Art Studio a rural location. Fauzi show up on March 16 in Yogyakarta and will work some months to create an exhibition.
I have enjoyed the quiet mornings where I could open the patio doors and look out at nature sparkling in the morning sun. Two butterflies have caught my eye, as they have flakset after each other in the same sunny area. Either it is a love-or love hunting but what a feat. They keep over 1 hour and continued the next day in the same sunny area.
I have enjoyed the quiet mornings where I could open the patio doors and look out at nature sparkling in the morning sun. Two butterflies have caught my eye, as they have flakset after each other in the same sunny area. Either it is a love-or love hunting but what a feat. They keep over 1 hour and continued the next day in the same sunny area.
It has rained every day
It has small rained all day with heavy rains in between. Nissak tells me that it is many years since the constant has rained every day as it has done for the last few months. I can understand that there are major floods in Jakarta.
I therefore I chose a scooter instead of a small motorcycle model. You protect the feet and legs for the rains. With a poncho clear to the frequent rains. It is also easy and quick to set up and manage because it has automatic gearbox. It is a new Honda 125cc model, so it is fast on the uptake. You just have to be careful not to drive more than 60 kilometers. on the less bumpy roads with the small wheels.
The fourth day here in Yogyakarta thundered it right violently and rain stood down in squares throughout 6 hours. When I came home to Fauzi's house at 11 pm and was going to sleep, I discover that the great mattress lying on the floor of the room where I have furnished me was completely soaked. It must have dropped sharply down from the ceiling for several hours on the mattress. Some tiles had been smashed because of the heavy rain.
Fauzi's bedroom was locked and signaled that I could not put me to sleep on their bed.
First after 1 week was the mattress completely dry, because of the tremendous humidity and very little wind. So a whole week I struggled in my sleep, not to roll down from the only 60 cm wide air mattress, which I had brought to use on my MC.Journey.
The next day it still dripped very strongly from the ceiling, as there sometimes was a long-term heavy rain. I had to use all the pots and wash tubs that were in the house. Fauzi first appeared march 16 and got the roof fixed.
The weather is so humid so all my pages in my sketchbook curls of moisture and your clothes is too humid.
When the sun shines through the temperature goes up to 32 degrees otherwise it remains at 28 degrees. The humidity is unbearable sometimes when the wind is calm, then the sweat get on your body as sweat beads.
I have struggled with a cold and has therefore to take a scarf around my neck in addition to a windproof shirt on when I go on the scooter. Before you get he scooter started you are again wet with sweat. Fortunately you dry quickly when you are up to speed. When you have reached your goal stops you and will again wet and sweaty. It does not help one's colds that you have to have a wind machine running to get the wind to circulate in the room -
In Indonesia, they do not divided the year into four seasons: Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter. One has only two seasons: Summer - Rainy season. You do not have words in Indonesian for Spring and Fall.
I therefore I chose a scooter instead of a small motorcycle model. You protect the feet and legs for the rains. With a poncho clear to the frequent rains. It is also easy and quick to set up and manage because it has automatic gearbox. It is a new Honda 125cc model, so it is fast on the uptake. You just have to be careful not to drive more than 60 kilometers. on the less bumpy roads with the small wheels.
The fourth day here in Yogyakarta thundered it right violently and rain stood down in squares throughout 6 hours. When I came home to Fauzi's house at 11 pm and was going to sleep, I discover that the great mattress lying on the floor of the room where I have furnished me was completely soaked. It must have dropped sharply down from the ceiling for several hours on the mattress. Some tiles had been smashed because of the heavy rain.
Fauzi's bedroom was locked and signaled that I could not put me to sleep on their bed.
First after 1 week was the mattress completely dry, because of the tremendous humidity and very little wind. So a whole week I struggled in my sleep, not to roll down from the only 60 cm wide air mattress, which I had brought to use on my MC.Journey.
The next day it still dripped very strongly from the ceiling, as there sometimes was a long-term heavy rain. I had to use all the pots and wash tubs that were in the house. Fauzi first appeared march 16 and got the roof fixed.
The weather is so humid so all my pages in my sketchbook curls of moisture and your clothes is too humid.
When the sun shines through the temperature goes up to 32 degrees otherwise it remains at 28 degrees. The humidity is unbearable sometimes when the wind is calm, then the sweat get on your body as sweat beads.
I have struggled with a cold and has therefore to take a scarf around my neck in addition to a windproof shirt on when I go on the scooter. Before you get he scooter started you are again wet with sweat. Fortunately you dry quickly when you are up to speed. When you have reached your goal stops you and will again wet and sweaty. It does not help one's colds that you have to have a wind machine running to get the wind to circulate in the room -
In Indonesia, they do not divided the year into four seasons: Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter. One has only two seasons: Summer - Rainy season. You do not have words in Indonesian for Spring and Fall.
I have felt a little paralyzed at the beginning
It is incredibly hard to find your way alone, especially out here in the small minor roads whi th the small individual houses next to each other. It's a bit of a jungle village. All the houses and planting is like being in a jungle, the road is different and yet the same immediately. You lose therefore easy orientation.
I have felt paralyzed physically because I miss the larger geographical overview. I have therefore been very dependent on being guided around both linguistically, culturally and geographically. I have got a map of the city, but Kersan and Fauzi's house is not on this map. When you google votes addresses and the location does not match.
I have felt paralyzed physically because I miss the larger geographical overview. I have therefore been very dependent on being guided around both linguistically, culturally and geographically. I have got a map of the city, but Kersan and Fauzi's house is not on this map. When you google votes addresses and the location does not match.
Life existential complexity - I was faced with that in the beginning of my stay in a house there for a period has been empty. In the bathroom one morning a 4 cm. large cockroach on his back struggled with his legs. Immediately my brain cells started, I had to let it fight its own battle or should I kill it, as the pest it is, or should I save it, as the Good Samaritan - my morale tells me.
I took a brush and pushed it out into the open. Next day where another cockroach also lay on his back in the living room, it had become a bit routine, so the brain did not have to tell my body what to do.
I took a brush and pushed it out into the open. Next day where another cockroach also lay on his back in the living room, it had become a bit routine, so the brain did not have to tell my body what to do.
Loving thoughts from the thoughts 'ability in time and space
Bjarne v.H.H.Solberg
