Artist : Anonymous
(Vernacular & Vintage Photographs)
Genre : Black & White Photographs
Period : May 28 till July 28
Everyday, 10.00AM to 9.00PM
Location :Richard Meyer Culture
Jl. Petitenget 200X
Tel: 7445179
Located in the developing area of Petitenget Richard Meyer Culture is literally the new gallery on the block. With its grey tiled floor, white walls and discreet lighting, this gallery is everything one would expect from a gallery where the emphasis is on the works on display rather than other distractions. What sets this gallery apart, and makes it a welcome addition to the Bali art scene, is that it will concentrate on photography. Often regarded as the “poor cousin” of painting it is easy to forget that photography has a history over 170 years old and has significantly influenced 20th Century Art. For their inaugural exhibition, entitled “Family Matters”, the gallery is presenting a collection of vernacular and vintage Indonesian photographs by anonymous photographers. This is an intriguing exhibition and is open to multiple and divergent interpretations.
In this large collection of photographs most of the images on display are intimate “family snaps” from the 1950’s and 60’s. There are naked babies on bunny rugs, school portraits, graduation ceremonies, sporting events, engagements, weddings, baptisms, confirmations, picnics and parties. All the ordinary and familiar rites of passage any family might encounter during a lifetime. However, as anonymous photographs we have no point of reference in which to place these people. Apart from being recognizably Indonesian we can only surmise their circumstances and histories. We bring to these photographs our own memories of similar events and rationalize them accordingly. Initially, these photographs demonstrate that certain “Family Matters” are universal and can transcend cultural differences.
Let us consider the term vernacular. Within the context of this exhibition vernacular refers to the fact that these are indigenous photographs. They are not taken by a visiting overseas photographer with romantic notions of paradise lost, but rather they are taken by Indonesians for themselves as a record, or documentation, of special family occasions. This is the way the subjects of the photographs wanted to be seen. Tight jeans and rockabilly shirts, beehive hairdos and spiky eyelashes, motorbikes and vodka martinis. What emerges, on second glance, is a certain class of Indonesian Society which was enthusiastically embracing the latest Western Styles and Values.
Finally, there is no doubt that these are vintage photographs. The majority of the “snaps” are what is called “wallet” size. Souvenirs of precious moments, or images of loved ones, designed to fit into a wallet or display folder and taken by a Kodak Brownie Box Camera. This camera revolutionized photography. Relatively inexpensive it placed photography into the hands of all. No formal photographic expertise was necessary. Anyone could take a picture. All you had to do was point and snap to obtain a Kodak moment. These photographs can be regarded as original documents that record the lifestyle of a bygone era that is remembered by many as a Golden Age and is recalled with bitter-sweet nostalgia. Given the current political climate, with a Presidential Election looming, “Family Matters” is a timely, provocative and thoughtful exhibition. Richard Meyer Culture is to be congratulated.
