In recent years, art exhibitions in Jakarta have not been limited to galleries. This effort to bring art closer to the masses has seen exhibitions held in all manner of public places, most prominently in shopping malls.
While this approach has certainly helped artists reach a wider audience, old-school art connoisseurs have cringed at what they see as a process of commercialization. They bemoan the fact that art in shopping malls tends to get lost among the outlets selling luxury goods from Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
Those who never warmed to the idea of art exhibitions in shopping malls can now let out a sigh of relief, as an even newer trend seems to have taken over Jakarta’s art scene: Rather than moving paintings, sculptures and installations out of the galleries and into the malls, the owners of art venues have decided to lure visitors by integrating cafes and restaurants into their exhibition spaces.
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