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Beneath The Winds: Masterpieces of Southeast Asian Art

By Barry Lenny

Posted on December 1, 2011

The Art Gallery of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide
http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/

18^th November 2011 – 29^th January 2012
Mon to Sun, 10am to 5pm, free entry
Guided tours Weds, Thurs, Sat, Sun and public holidays at 12 noon.
Floor talks: Tues 29^th Nov 12.30pm, Tues 6^th Dec 12.30pm and Tues 24^th Jan 12.30pm

Imagine yourself in the hush of an Indonesian temple as you gaze in awe at spotlighted treasures against a gently rich background. Breathe in the intricacies of spirit and art, intertwined inextricably, and immerse yourself in the ancient cultures of Southeast Asia. It’s hard to believe that you are still in the heart of Adelaide and, in fact, in our very own Art Gallery, which is showing its own collection of masterpieces of Southeast Asian Art.

This collection was started 40 years ago, with a great many of the pieces being donated by the current Art Gallery of South Australia Chairman, Michael Abbott, AO, QC, and is the first time that they have been exhibited, so do not miss this opportunity.

It is easy to feel yourself transported both in distance and time as you wander around this wondrous exhibition. Feast your eyes on richly fascinating textiles, carved wooden temple doors, gold and metal smithed masterpieces, to the sublime simplicity of 10^th century ceramics which would not be out of place in today’s design world.

James Bennett has surpassed himself as the curator of the exhibition and author of the accompanying book, which depicts all of the exhibits, over 120 of them, with full details, which provides a lasting reminder of these treasures and is sure to become a resource in its own right should you wish to purchase a copy.

To compliment the exhibition, and to bring the viewer back into the 21^st century, there is an exhibition of Eko Nugroho’s (b 1977) work. This is urban Indonesian street culture with a vengeance. These bold, in your face works have no apparent subtlety until you look closer and realise that they are created by embroidery, a very traditional technique usually associated with feminine gentleness but, in this case, used to thrust a message of discontent and dissolution of a generation. The strange gentleness within the eyes peering through masks forms a message that cannot fail to touch the viewer with co-existent sadness at the cultural homogenisation.

Christine Pyman, Visual Arts Critic, Glam Adelaide