Fluid Zones exhibition that showed in two venues, Galeri Nasional Indonesia and Grand Indonesia Plaza, according to exhibition curator Agung Hujatnikajennong; is an effort to offer a novel mapping on the contemporary art practices in Southeast Asia. This exhibition invited 39 artists – local and international – who lives or ever works within Southeast Asia region. This exhibition can also be said as a key event in Jakarta Biennale 2009. The opening ceremony was held on Friday, February 6th 2009 at 7.00 pm.

The artworks exhibited within the Fluid Zone are dominated by installation or video installation works. Artist like Kuswidananto a.k.a Jompet shows his video installation work called Java’s Machine: Phantasmagoria (2008-2009) which was made of kinetic multimedia installation comprising video, recycled electronic devices, drums, resin, and video projection. Once the audience enters Jompet’s show room, they will be greeted by immense sensation of Jompet’s work and the ambience of the room that support the complexity of the work magnificently. Other artists who also work with video installation are VideoBabes (Indonesia), Adria Julia (Spain), Phil Collins (England), Donna Ong (Singapore), etc. Beside video installation, there are also installation works done by artists such as   Roslisham Ismail (Malaysia), Iswanto Hartono (Indonesia), Khairuddin Hori (Malaysia), and many others.

Meanwhile, the works that displayed in Grand Indonesia Plaza mostly done by artists who always work with objects or objects installation, although there are several artists with video installation like Craig Walsh (Australia), Donna Ong (Singapore), Porntaweesak Rimsakul (Thailand), Sylvain Sailly (France), and Uschi Huber (Germany). Wiyoga Muhardanto, one of the artists who always work with objects, shows three of his serial works from his Window Display (2008) solo exhibition. The works are MPV a.k.a Multipart Vehicle, Ciao Bella, dan Buy One Get One Free. Alongside Wiyoga there are also Rudi Mantofani who is well known for his guitar work series called Nada yang Hilang (2007-2009), Handiwirman Saputra with his Exterior, Inside View - Interior, Outside View (2008-2009), Poklong Anading with Casket (Untitled) (2008), and many others.

Alongside with the exhibition of Fluid Zone artists, works from Battle Zone workshop also exhibited in room B Galeri Nasional Indonesia. The exhibited works are belong to artists involved in Battle Zone, such as Ami & The Popo, Daniel Kampua, Grafisosial, Restu Rahaningtyas, and many others.

As a whole, this exhibition really reveals new understanding on tendency of contemporary art practices in Southeast Asia.

Annisa Desmiati R