C(era)mics by Artisa Tumiwa

ARTISA THERESIA TUMIWA // IKA ROVIKA SANAP

C(ERA)MICS

49 31

CONTENT PROLOGUE 11

CERAMICS TECHNIQUES 29

CRAFTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA 13

IN CONVERSATION: WATI KARMOJONO 31

CERAMICS AS A CRAFT AMONGST THE YOUNG GENERATION IN JAKARTA 17

YOUNG GENERATION CERAMIC ARTISANS 47

APPRECIATION OF CERAMICS 21

CERAMICS TODAY 53

P RO L O G U E

BEHIND C(ERA)MICS The reason to why this book is called "C(ERA)MICS" is because ceramics - pottery to be exact, is an art form that was very popular way back when (especially during the ancient Greek century). After thousands of years of changes and development throughout it's over all look, ceramics is still a popular artform up to this current era. Ceramic it self is an old form of art and craft that can be found in the Greek era (a very long time ago). Throughout the years, there has always been enthusiasts of this craft but there is significant increase towards the audience. With the development of social networking and technology, arts and crafts have a medium to expand peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge towards ceramics. Due to the fact that the young generation of people is the ones who are used to the use of it, they are able to access and know more on what ceramics is about because of this new era of living.

CRAFTS THROUGH S O C IAL M E DIA

CRAFT THROUGH S O C IAL M E DIA

In this fast pace world, technology and social media platforms are very familiar terms used amongst the young generation of people. The use of social networking itself refers to an online community of people with a common interest who use a web site or other technologies to communicate with each other and share information and resources. The web is an excellent way for an artist, gallery or studio owner to engage and expand their audience. Having a page on Instagram and other social media platforms can connect to a wide range of people. Social networking sure is a good tool that can reach people all over the world. Most communities use Instagram to let their “followers” know what is happening in the world of the crafter at the moment and to share future events, showcase the artists at work, and stay connected with customer base in a way which can be more efficient than mass mailings. In todays ‘updated’ and technology-engulfed world, modern and contemporary crafts has ‘swooped’ in to take to the limelight. Art, specifically ceramics, nowadays connects with the younger generation much more than it used to. It attracts and involved ‘us’ with modern issues that affect our daily life, as well as etching its image into our mind for us to ponder throughout the day. Art is no longer a ‘5-minute’ visual attraction; it is a life-changing, provocative and engulfing form of connection to millions.

C E R A M IC S AS A C R AFT A MONG S T T H E YO U N G G E NE R AT IO N IN J AK AR TA

CERAMICS AS A CRAFT AMONGST THE YOUNG GENERATION IN JAKARTA

Basically, ceramics is the craft of any product made essentially from clay, and is made by firing at high temperature. Ceramics are made from materials, which are permanently changed when heated. Differ from pottery, which is talking about the form of the ceramics. The word itself derives from the Old English “potian”, which means, “to push". Pottery can then be specified to studio pottery. Studio pottery itself is when a ceramic artisan creates large quantities of ceramic wares such as plates, platters, dishes, bowls, and so on. However, there are studio potters that are more concerned with creating forms for their uniqueness and beauty. These "art" pieces might still retain full functionality, or they may move toward being more sculptural. Many of these are "one-off" pieces, meaning they are one-of-a-kind. These ceramic crafts are now gaining its popularity as an artwork or even as a homeware amongst the people in Jakarta. Although Jakarta is a city known for its bustling streets, busy office districts and uncountable numbers of malls; in between the business of it all, Jakarta’s local art scene is beginning to emerge. There has been an increase of art communities that have been branching out and becoming more popular, especially amongst the young generation of people who live in Jakarta. Fortunately, many of these art communities available in Jakarta are up to date in providing the newest information regarding the art scene around the city. It then gives an opportunity for people to learn about and collect various kinds of crafts. Ceramics itself has become much popular through out the years, especially amongst the art enthusiast of this vast city. This old form of artistry has its own crowd of pleasers due to its complex process and required skill to create beautiful forms of either functional or decorative art.

A PPR EC I AT IO N O F C E R AM IC S

APPRECIATION FOR CERAMICS

Being able to participate in various exhibitions can help ceramic artisans expand its craft to many people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; due to the fact that ceramics is an activity being done by a wide rage of age groups.

Some of the first few ceramic artisans who became popular at the time were, to name a few; Liem Keng Sien, Hildawati and Suyatna in the 1980s. Liem Keng Sien was one of the first people who was active in the ceramics field and held many mini exhibitions of his own.

As mentioned, fingers can count the amount of ceramic studios out and about in Jakarta. Just like other activities, it takes a whole lot for someone to live a life of a ceramic artisan. In Indonesia, the interest in the art of ceramics emerged around the 1960s, when the art major of the Institute of Technology Bandung established a ceramics class.

However, as the years pass, ceramics is still a craft that is not as promising, due to its long process which makes people tend to be lazy to continue on to learning this art form. Nonetheless, there were then more universities around Indonesia that added ceramics classes to its art program. Unfortunately, many of the students who took the class eventually moved to another class, which wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as complex as ceramics.

The world of ceramics still needs to be introduced to, especially to the people living in Indonesia. Starting this sharing in Jakarta is a good start, as there are many communities and places to start up ceramics as a hobby. Throughout the recent years, there have been various workshops regarding arts and crafts, including ceramics. Ceramics is gaining it popularity amongst many, especially towards the young generation. It’s always an exciting experience for them to get to explore their imagination and come up with something they can build with their hands.Some places that hold ceramics workshops in Jakarta include Kollekan, Indoestri and Kandura Studio. Each places different methods of teaching but all share the same knowledge of ceramics itself. The appreciation of ceramics can also be earned by holding exhibitions. The most recent ceramics exhibition held in Jakarta was “Identitas”. It was held on the 16th – 25th October 2015 at the Ceramics Museum in Kota Tua. During the exhibition, there were also workshops being held by some well-known ceramic artisans. The Identitas ceramics exhibition showcased artworks of 13 artists who are; F. Widayanto, Antin Sabodo, Ayu Larasati, Bregas Harrimardoyo, Evy Yonathan, Geofrey Tjakra, HaryoSoenggono, Lisa Sumardi, Silayana Setiadarma, Yetty Tamsil, Ignasius Tommy, Adhy Putraka and Wati Karmojono. The whole aim of the whole exhibition itself was to inform and remind people that although ceramics is a difficult art form with a long process to complete, it should gain more exposure from the public and receive an even higher appreciation for its unique execution.

C E R A MIC S T E C H N IQ U E S

I N C O N V E R S AT IO N : WAT I K AR M O J O N O

WHAT TYPE OF CERAMIC ARTWORK DO YOU LIKE TO CREATE? I usually create ceramic tableware – if there is an order from a client, I usually design the object and have some workers creating the actual object based on what I’ve designed. I also like creating sculptures, this is where I both design and create it on my own. WHO IS ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN THE WORLD OF CERAMICS? I don’t have one favorite in particular. Many of my friends in the ceramics field are my inspiration. For instance, Evy Yonathan, her works are very expressive and always show a certain character to it. Her works are also usually really small which makes it unique to see. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COME UP WITH A DESIGN, INCLUDING

ITS

OVERALL

CONCEPT

AND

VISUAL

ASPECTS? It depends. Sometimes ideas just come and go. Unless if there is an order from a client, I have to come up with something based on what they want in a slightly pressured amount of time. It becomes difficult if the client asks for something that isn’t available in our gallery anymore, such as the dye or gloss. Coming up with the right composition of color for the dye requires time and patients. It’s very difficult to come up with the same color being used in the past. Same as the dye, the gloss is also a difficult element in the ceramic process, as it also requires the exact percentage of mix to get the type of gloss we want. Not many sell gloss in Indonesia; even if they do, it still might not be the right composition. Thus, ceramic artisans usually have their own preference of gloss, which would eventually be used as their trademark. Thus, if I were creating something for a client, it would be faster to come up with a design because I would already have a visual idea of what they want. The downside is that sometimes that the materials needed to fulfill what they want might be limited. Meanwhile, designing something for

"I think the ceramics community in Indonesia, Jakarta itself, is already getting better. The younger generation of people is already getting more enthusiastic about this form of art."

personal purposes would be slightly longer but I am able to use the materials I know is available to be used. WHAT DO THE STUDENTS (BASED ON THEIR AGE) IN THE KOLLEKAN STUDIO LIKE TO CREATE? The younger students, around the age range of 5 – 10 years old like to create plates or something with animal decorations.

WHAT ARE THE TOOLS BEING PROVIDED DURING THE

the clay and tools. Afterwards, the students are free to explore

LESSON?

on what they want to create.

We usually provide basic tools. We also provide a wheel but it’s very limited thus we don’t often use it during a big class. Thus,

IS THERE ANY OF YOUR STUDENTS THAT SHOW

pinching is a common technique being taught to the class. It’s

ENTHUSIASM IN CONTINUING THEIR CERAMICS HOBBY

because it just requires hand movement and imagination.

INTO SOMETHING MORE? At the moment, there aren’t many. Many of my students tend

DO THE YOUNG STUDENTS LEARN CERAMICS IN KOLLEKAN

to come and go. Once they’ve got the basics of ceramics, they

BASED ON THE OWN WILLINGNESS OR ARE THEY USUALLY

are usually pretty satisfied with what they’ve learnt. Some

ASKED TO BY THEIR GUARDIAN?

of my students go but come back after a few months due to

There are some students who come here because they are the

their busy schedules. I also have students who buy clay from

ones who want to get to know more about ceramics making

here, make their creations at home and come back to heat their

on their own. However, most of the younger students tend to

ceramics.

come to the studio because of a second party – which usually ARE THERE ANY OBSTACLES IN HAVING CERAMICS AS

is their parents or school.

A HOBBY? HOW IS THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE STUDENTS IN

The equipment being used for ceramics can become an obstacle

KOLLEKAN?

being faced. The oven, wheel and everything in between is not

Many of the younger students are very enthusiastic; they tend

easy to find and definitely worth a lot if one decides to buy it.

to fight for turns to be the first to be assisted! They are also

Thus, having workshops and lessons can be useful for those

very excited in starting to create something before learning

who want to learn ceramics because the tools and equipment

of the basics. Meanwhile my older students are more calm and

is already being provided. Once you’re certain you have an

collected but are very eager to learn ceramics. The ones who

ultimate passion for ceramics, buying all the equipment can

assist the students usually give basic knowledge on who to use

become a good investment. 38

WHAT IS THE DAY-TO-DAY SITUATION IN KOLLEKAN LIKE? We just go through the basics. We go in the studio, finish orders for clients, sometimes make our own creations and call it a day. WHAT TYPE OF ORDERS DOES KOLLEKAN USUALLY GET? Kollekan usually receives orders to creating anything from bowls for restaurants or cafes to soap bottles for spas. It can be said that our studio is known because of mouth-to-mouth promotion, which is where we get most of our clients. HAS KOLLEKAN EVER HELD A WORKSHOP OR EVENT ON THEIR OWN? Not yet, but we have been invited in several events – whether it’s a private event or an event held by a certain institution or community. Private events are usually held by primary schools for their students, for university students taking art majors or women who want to know more in the art of craft. DOES KOLLEKAN PARTICIPATE IN MANY EXHIBITIONS? We usually participate when we are invited. Many exhibitions are very expensive, and sometimes we won’t get our modal in return. INSTEAD

MOUTH-TO-MOUTH

PROMOTION,

THERE

ANYTHING ELSE TO PROMOTE KOLLEKAN? Unfortunately, we do still don’t have a website for our promotion. Our only social platform at the moment is a Facebook fanpage. As we all may know, social media is a big part of marketing, however, we do not have a marketing division yet. Thus, I am glad to see many young ceramics artist share more knowledge on this form of art. WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR KOLLEKAN’S FUTURE, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CERAMICS COMMUNITY IN INDONESIA? Personally, I think the ceramics community in Indonesia, Jakarta itself, is already getting better. The younger generation of people is already getting more enthusiastic about this form of art. Ayu Larasati and Bregas are just a few of many who have made their hobby of ceramics into something big, where they took their studies of ceramics much further and now share what they have learnt to the public. WHAT IS KOLLEKAN’S VISION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FOND OF THIS ARTFORM? Kollekan hopes to be able to make people have a bigger appreciation for ceramics. This form of art requires a handmade process that people should definitely know more about.

YOU N G G E N E R AT IO N C ER A M IC AR T IS AN S

YOUNG INDONESIAN CERAMIC ARTISANS

To expand the knowledge of ceramics, interviewing an expert in the ceramics field is one of the methods we have decided to execute. Kollekan studio is one of the ceramics studios that have been popular throughout the years amongst people around Jakarta. The reason as why we chose this specific studio is because the studio not only sells functional contemporary pieces in their shop, but also holds classes for ceramic enthusiasts. The founders of Kollekan Studio are Yetty and Wati. What began as a hobby ended up becoming a passion, which is why they decided to open their own studio in late 1998. The studio was originally intended to be a personal studio space for both of its founder. Wati is a professional painter that graduated from ITBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Faculty of Art and Design, while Yetty, a graduate from Akademi Teknik Desain Interior, works daily as an Art and Culture Specialist at VIVERE.

Argya Dhyaksa Argya Dhyaksa is an ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) graduate, with ceramic art as his major. Argya has been contributed in many exhibitions since his early years as a college student. Participated in Space Art Public, Dago in Bandung (2010), previously Argya has also exhibited his artwork in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sidik Jariâ&#x20AC;?, an exhibition arranged by the first year undergraduate students of FSRD ITB. Argya is known to be quite playful in making his arts. His preference to makes small animal figures with surrealistic touch has become his distinctive creation. This year Argya will be participated as an artist-in-residence in the event of 3rd Jakarta Contemporary Ceramic Bienalle.

Argya is known to be quite playful in making his arts. His preference to makes small animal figures with surrealistic touch has become his distinctive creation.

Ayu Larasati Ayu Larasati was born in Indonesia and moved to Toronto, Canada to study at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD University). She earned her bachelor degree in Industrial Design graduating with 3 awards for her end-of-year thesis project. Ayu has spent years working for a design and manufacturing company in Toronto designing for small establishments and multinational companies. While she was holding her full-time job as a product designer, ceramics and pottery has captured her biggest passion and she found herself making ceramic objects from her apartment. In late 2014, she established a small home studio in Jakarta, Indonesia producing small batch of functional everyday home wares.

Ayu envisions that her pottery work will engage its audience in a conversation that explore, raise questions and ignite the curiosity of the process involved in making an everyday ceramic object

Ayu has also been actively involved in a community of makers. She teaches, shares and promotes the process of creating ceramic objects at Jakarta's first makerspace Indoestri. She envisions that her pottery work will engage its audience in a conversation that explore, raise questions and ignite the curiosity of the process involved in making an everyday ceramic object that unfortunately, rarely regarded as an object of treasury. Through the conversation that happens around handmade small-batch production ceramics and home-based business, she hope to cultivate a different level of appreciation, a deeper meaning when using her pottery and more informed decision when buying an everyday objects.

C E R AM IC S T O DAY

CERAMICS TODAY

Even if ceramics existed for many centuries, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still slowly gaining its enthusiasts throughout the years. Being an old form of art, it may seem as if only an older crowd of people can appreciate ceramics. When in fact, the young generation of people would and should be able to easily find an interest towards this form of craft.

that they have many followers who are enthusiastic to know what they will share next.

Ceramics is certainly a form of art that can make these fast pace young generation of people to appreciate the process and skill required in this craftsmanship.

Through social networking, these young generation of people living in Jakarta can know more on what is going on in the art scene around them, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an update regarding the next art exhibition or workshop they can participate in.

In a social media, followers vary. However, in a community, a certain crowd is being made. It can be concluded that the crowd of these art enthusiasts mainly live in big cities, including Jakarta, and is in the young age group of people.

With many artisans in the ceramics field who are also active in various social networking platforms, it gives an opportunity for their followers to follow their footsteps and tryout ceramics as a hobby. Thus, with peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge expanding about ceramics, they can know that the process that goes into pottery is not as easy and definitely not something that can be instantly done. Ceramics is certainly a form of art that can make these fast pace young generation of people to appreciate the process and skill required in this craftsmanship.

Throughout the recent years, many art communities and artisans in Jakarta are expanding. Their expansion itself can clearly be seen online, specifically in various social networking platforms. Instagram is a clear example, where it can be seen

REFERENCES

Dhyaksa, A. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/kirainstudio Dodys, A. (2012). A Roadmap to Promoting and Marketing Artwork from a Veteran Visual Art Teacher's Perspective (Masters Degree). Georgia State University. Still House. (2015). Still House x Sharon Radisch. Retrieved from http://www.blog.stillhousenyc.com Jakarta Globe. (2015). Playing with Clay at Suar Artspace. Retrieved from http://jakartaglobe. beritasatu.com/features/playing-clay-suar-artspace Jenie, K. (2015). Keramik, Desain dan Seni bersama Ayu Larasati. Larasati, A. (2013). About. Ayu Larasati Ceramics. Retrieved from http://ayularasati.com/about/ Larasati, A. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/alarasati Manual. (2014). Indoestri – Pottery Class with Ayu Larasati. Retrieved from http://manual.co.id/ article/indoestri-pottery-class-ayu-larasati Navaro, R. (2013). Kollekan Ceramics: Teaching and Sharing the Love of Pottery. Whiteboard Journal. Retrieved from http://www.whiteboardjournal.com/focus/12121/kollekan- ceramics Cereal. (2014). Comakwon Cafe. Retrieved from http://readcereal.com/comakwon/ Peterson, B. (2014). What Are Pottery and Ceramics?. About Home. Retrieved from http://pottery. about.com/od/meetingpotters/tp/pots101.htm Prima, N. (2014). Pottery Class at Indoestri Makerspace. Living Loving. Retrieved from https:// www.livingloving.net/2014/contributor/pottery-class-at-indoestri-makerspace/ Prima, N. (2015). Counting Your 'First Time' Moments. Living Loving. Retrieved from https:// www.livingloving.net/2015/life/counting-your-first-time-moments Ramadhina, A. (2015). Karya 13 Seniman Keramik Indonesia Tampil di Pameran “Identitas”. Asri. Retrieved from http://majalahasri.com/karya-13-seniman-keramik-indonesia-tampil-di- pameran-identitas/ Storms, P. (n.d.). Methods of Clay Hand-Building Techniques. Retrieved from http://www. lakesidepottery.com/HTML%20Text/Methods%20of%20Handbuilding.html Widayanto, F. (2015). Sekapur Sirih Pameran "Identitas". Presentation, Identitas Exhibition. Wisanggeni, A. (2012). Identitas dan Kemungkinan Tak Terbatas. Kompas, p. 30. Retrieved from http://arsip.galeri-nasional.or.id/uploads/kliping/4821/_MG_101435.pdf

C(ERA)MICS