On August 19, 2009, Indonesia Visual Arts Archive launched the first visual arts archives website in Indonesia, iclick.IVAA. On the occasion, Jurnal Footage interviewed Farah Wardani, Executive Director of IVAA. The following is our interview.
Can you tell us a bit about iclick.IVAA?
IVAA was previously known by the name Cemeti Art Foundation. Since 2007, it was changed into Indonesian Visual Art Archive, more widely known as IVAA. We specialize in archiving Indonesian contemporary visual arts. iclick.IVAA itself is our new media in the form of online archive. Our existing archives are now digitalized and accessible via the internet. We started this digitalization since 2008. Currently we have completed the web and uploaded therein 20% of digitalized data. We term this as phase one. iclick.IVAA offers a kind of research center on the Indonesian contemporary visual arts, to provide helpful tools for researchers, curators, artists, and also for public.
Is iclick.IVAA the first online archive in Indonesia?
It is. Previously some people upload their data via file sharing, for example from their blogs. But to focus on archiving contemporary visual arts with pictures, audios, and videos, we are the first to initiate.
From what year is the oldest data accessible?
As far back as 1959. Mostly they are in the form of texts and old pictures. But the largest portion of data consists of works starting from 1970 and later.
Is there any particular selection to determine which works to store in iclick.IVAA?
We do select the data to store in iclick.IVAA. Currently iclick.IVAA categorizes the archives into six types: Public Visual Art, Social Issues, Alternative Space, Youth and Creative Industry Culture, Multimedia, and Identity. We select the data based on the categorization because those six are the most explored areas in Indonesian visual art. But I believe it’s evolving and very likely to expand.
Do the archives cover the works from all across Indonesia?
Quite many. Even Papua Cultural Preserve submits their data to be included in iclick.IVAA. But we have to select them based on our category and ideology nevertheless. Currently, our existing data represent the works from Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Bali, Padang, Manado. But the discursive and directed art practices are mainly the ones from Java and Bali. Most likely due to the many art centers located there, eventhough the artist themselves come from different cities.
Why not remain with the name Cemeti? Cemeti has even before focused in art archiving, has it not?
We decided to change name because it is often mistaken with Cemeti Art House, a similar foundation down at Pandjaitan Road, Yogyakarta. Our histories are indeed similar. Yet during the course, we realize we have become two different organizations, by the same name. There are also a lot of letters mistakenly addressed to Cemeti Art House. It hinders our work and management. We decided to use the name IVAA because we do specialize in archiving Indonesian contemporary visual arts.
Is it possible for IVAA to archive data from foreign countries as well?
Yes, it is. But either foreign or local, we particularly select data in relation to the issues of Indonesian culture. One thing to understand is that our archive is not just a directory, but we also would like to provide information for researchers regarding visual arts development. So it’s more to art practices with relation to the society.
How long does it take to digitalize the analog data?
A year. But data gathering activities have started way even before, since 1995, when we were still under the name Cemeti Art Foundation.
What are the obstacles?
There are plenty. During the past year we’ve been trying to speed things up and focus. The most difficult thing is to manage database content management system. There are many trial-and-errors during categorization process. Another obstacle is our own changing mindset, from analog way of thinking to, now, digital. We used to store physical data on the shelves, but now we have to upload the digitalized version to the site.
How many persons are there behind IVAA?
Ten persons. Half of us are former players from Cemeti Art Foundation. The rest are new individuals with new vision as well.
How does IVAA gather all the data?
Previously we acquired local archives, mainly from Yogyakarta and the surrounding regions. But as nowadays artists tend to document their work, our network has—along with the development—expanded, too. So we ask artists to submit some of their data for us digitalize. We name this program Archive Partnership.
Is the site accessible for free?
It is. We have account-based membership but merely for refreshment purposes. We have yet to figure what will become of it. Once it’s established and flourished, I think we can start thinking about royalties et cetera. Basically we’d like to inform the public and let them have the access to the arts without having to think much about it. What happens today is most people don’t actually know about Indonesian contemporary visual arts. And the few people who want to know would have to come down to IVAA directly. We think this program is a new opportunity to introduce visual arts. Other art foundations, also theaters, they actually have their own archives. And with iclick.IVAA, we try to stimulate more foundations to do online archiving like us. The reason being, our country has no functioning museums and the government do not really attend to such thing. So, we think website is the most efficient way.
How do you see the development in Indonesian contemporary visual arts?
To me, Indonesians are basically artsy. Art has become our medium of expression since long ago. No matter what condition the country is undergoing, art has always been appealing. But the development tends to reach only infrastructural needs, for example the current renovation of the National Gallery. Nowadays, appreciation for arts has increased. Back then, when we organize exhibitions, it’s usually attended only by circles of friends. Now it has gained larger crowds.
How do you introduce iclick.IVAA to the public?
Aside from the launch, we depend on hyperlink on the site.
What are IVAA’s upcoming programs?
We intend on establishing researcher residence. Usually we did only artists exchange. Now we’d like to have researchers exchange. Hopefully we can start next year. Foreign researchers can come and utilize the tools provided in IVAA, and vice versa, we send researchers to other countries. That way, we think, we can further process the data gained.
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