Art and Collecting Art (English Edition)
Description:... Oei Hong Djien, Indonesia’s distinguished art collector hailing from Magelang, Central Java, is also a writer. From 1990 to the present day, which spans a period of about 20 years, he has written numerous pieces on art. Most are introductions to exhibition catalogues; some are texts for speeches, lectures and discussions; others are articles that have appeared in the catalogues of auction houses, magazines and books.
The written works of OHD, which is how he is known, have been compiled in this book entitled Art and Collecting Art. He has a wide variety of interests: from modern artists to the old masters, young contemporary artists, markets, auctions, collections, to the relationship between art and society. In his unique style of speech which is direct and unpretentious, OHD takes us into the mind of a collector.
This book offers a series of arguments behind the activity of collecting paintings, sculptures, drawings and installations. Arguments are required to create a situation where art-collecting in Indonesia is conducted more conscientiously, shows greater respect for history, and has an interest in progressing art itself; this would be in contrast to pursuing artworks purely for investment purposes, to reap instant rewards, or as a fashion trend
driven by rumors and public opinion.
This book completes OHD’s desire to share after purchasing about 2,000 works of art, building museums, speaking at various forums and exhibiting his collection to the public. This book will give the public a chance to scrutinize OHD’s life experiences, ideas, personal relationships with artists, and art connections since the 1960s. This is an invaluable contribution to the Indonesian art world.
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