Indonesian Artists Shine in Paris

A pillar of the historical axis in Paris and bordered by the Arc de Triomphe, the Avenue des Champs-Elysee is one of the most famous streets in the world, and a vibrant center for high-end fashion and art galleries, from the massive Grand Palais to a new hidden art space by Louis Vuitton. 

The Louis Vuitton Culturel Espace, located on the seventh floor of the fashion brand’s flagship Paris store, is hosting the exhibition “Transfiguration: Indonesian Mythologies,” curated by Herve Mikaeloff. The show opened in June and runs through the end of October. 

“Transfiguration” features 11 upcoming and promising Indonesian artists, instead of simply promoting already-established ones. The works featured in the show not only show a wide variety of forms and styles, but also highlight the different backgrounds of the participating artists. The works tell the complex story of Indonesian social history, from the tension of post-colonialism and feudalism to statements of individuality and Indonesia’s place in a globalized world. 

The exhibition features mostly visual artists, including Eko Nugroho and Mella Jaarsma. One of the most familiar names in the show is the film director Garin Nugroho, who has recently expanded into performance and visual arts. 

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Yogya Puppets Put Focus on Singapore’s Elder Workers

Most people travel quickly through the unremarkable corridor leading from the Esplanade Theatre on the Bay in Singapore to the MRT station and Raffles City shopping center. But since mid-August, pedestrians have been stopped in their tracks by a puffy, colorful collection of moving dolls, artworks and video installations nestled under the highway.  

A  titled “Circus of Life,” focusing on the working elderly in big cities, is the result of the second collaboration between the Esplanade Theatre on the Bay and Indonesia’s Papermoon Puppet Theatre. Founded in Yogyakarta in 2006, Papermoon is the brainchild of visual artist Iwan Effendi and Maria Tri Sulistyani, a writer, illustrator and former stage actress commonly referred to as Ria. 

What started as a regular puppet theater performance for children in Ria’s neighborhood later developed into a mission to use experimental art to reach a wider audience through the medium of puppetry.  

“Not content with only working in performance spaces, I decided to expand to site-specific performances, like in markets and trains,” Ria said.  

She plans to perform at hospitals and nursing homes in the near future and, along with Iwan, also hopes to conduct workshops for people of all ages. 

“For Papermoon, the puppet theater is a medium to bring a message to

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