Cemeti Art House — Open Contemporary Art Center

Cemeti Art House was founded in 1988 by Nindityo Adipurnomo and Mella Jaarsma in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Since then, Cemeti Art House has been actively promoting and stimulating art practices in the contemporary Indonesian art scene and wider international platform.

Cemeti – Institut for Art and Society

What is the nature of the organization, for how long has it been around and what are its set goals?

What kind of events have you ever done?

Various projects, such as site specific, community based exhibitions, presentations, and performances involving local and foreign artists, writers, and art activists, have been realized each year. Artist’s talks, project presentations and group exhibitions are presented locally and internationally, as well as our monthly self-curated exhibitions at our space.

What kind of expectations do you have for the development of local contemporary art?

Contemporary art in Indonesia can be seen as a form, concern, view and reflection of artists to the issues that is developing in the society. Through their works, artists are responding and depicting general phenomena in the society, while other’s expressing individual and personal approaches to the reality. Therefore, Cemeti Art House is developing a platform in which activities revolve around and focus on reinventing ‘Art and Society’, emphasizing more alternative art practices that honor the process, rather than the promotion. Given the platform re-prioritizing ‘Art and Society’ practices, in 2010 Cemeti Art House offers residencies for artists, curators and multidisciplinary researchers.

Now in its 30th year, Cemeti’s artist founders Nindityo Adipurnomo and Mella Jaarsma, have stepped aside from the day-to-day running of the organization, staying on to guide and advise as chairs of the board. As a new team takes the helm, we want to take a moment for public reflection, thinking collectively with you about the possible futures of Cemeti. Part of this process is the changing of Cemeti’s name from Cemeti Art House to Cemeti - Institute for Art and Society. Our new subtitle takes as a starting point the idea of “instituting” as a collective social process in which we find forms for shared urgencies and ideologies.

Please, describe briefly your organization. Are all members artists?

Only the founders are artist; Nindityo Adipurnomo and Mella Jaarsma.

Cemeti team

Alec Steadman: Co-Chief Curator

Dimaz Maulana: Archive & Documentation Manager

Linda Mayasari: Director

Sanne Oorthuizen: Co-Chief Curator

Sarono: night guard and technical support

Theodora Agni: Residency Manager

Wahyu: night guard and technical support

Cemeti board

Alia Swastika