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The Arafura Craft Exchange

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

12 Jul '08-18 Jan '09
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
19 Conacher St, Fannie Bay

Sudjud Dartanto, lecturer at the Indonesia Institute of Arts' Craft Art Department, has had a busy past three years. They have been spent scouring Indonesia and Australia to find some of the countries' finest ceramicists, the results of which compile the Arafura Craft Exchange. The exhibition showcases 28 original works by seven artists Dartanto has found along his travels: Jenny Orchard, Asmudojo Jono Irianto, Dona Prawita Aristuta, Tita Rubi, Michael Doolan and Harvey Ottley.

What brought each artist to Dartanto's attention is their unique approach to the medium of ceramics, each finding inspiration in different fields. Doolan draws his from the world of toys, Sudiyati from Javanese mythology, Orchard's finds parallels between the environment and spirituality and Irianto's interest lies in the difference between authenticity and anti-authenticity.

The visual aesthetic for each also expresses their individual talents. Arisuta has an uncanny knack for replicating food, while Ottley incorporates horsehair into her work to create unique line compositions. Tita Rubi's I Wish I had a River comprises of hundreds of small flying human pieces, taking three people five days to install. Mr Daranto wishes the exhibition to simply be a celebration of the artistic output of Australian and Indonesian ceramicists. "When artists shape [ceramics] they become means of expression," he says. "We hope the exhibition initiates a desire to share and learn about the differing cultural loci of the two countries."

Kilian David