The National Gallery of Australia has moved towards contemporary with the launch of a new exhibition.
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Indonesia may be one of our nearest neighbours, but there are many untold ways we can listen to and learn from the country.
A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia branches away from the traditional and takes a step towards the contemporary, with works by a range of contemporary Indonesian artists.
More than 20 artists shine a light into the social and political changes negotiated by Indonesia over the past two decades.
Gallery director Nick Mitzevich said the show was designed to "take the pulse" of contemporary Indonesia.
"This is the next step, the next contemporary, progressive step," he said.
"It's important that we give an insight into the issues that artists in Indonesia need to express."
Jakarta-based artist Tita Salina has collaborated with local fishermen, and spent two weeks in heavily polluted Jakarta Bay, collecting large amounts of rubbish - enough for one person to produce over 50 years - and wrapping it in fishing net to create an artificial island.
She then launched it into the sea to become the 1001st island in the chain known as the Thousand Islands, as a statement about environmental and government corruption.
She described the experience of spending hours floating on the island as like "a beautiful horror scene."
"The exhibition really reflects today's situations in society, " Salina said.
Under hundreds of red electric candles, the work of another artist, FX Harsono, features memorabilia including photographic portraits, offering bowls and gold fortune cats.
A sixth-generation descendant of Chinese immigrants, he said his work reflected his family's experience.
"I was born before the New Order and during the New Order, for 32 years, the Chinese people in Indonesia could not practice their culture," he said. "When it ended, people had the freedom to practice their culture. This is not the culture I saw before.
"This is very interesting exhibition because the National Gallery of Australia tried to show that this is contemporary art in Indonesia at this time. They started with research, for maybe two years, before they went to Indonesia to interview artists. They are showing art from all generations."
Mr Mitzevich said even though the gallery is known for its extensive collection of Asian art, visitors would be surprised by the Indonesian offering.
"Expect to be surprised by the dimension, the dynamism, the beauty and provocation, the tradition and the history you might see and the edge which many of the artists push," he said.
"It's broad and representative and unexpected."
- Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia is showing at the National Gallery of Australia until October 27.