The charm of Dr. Oei Hong Djien cannot be exaggerated. Henry and I were not the first people to be brought under his “spell”. His passion for art, friendship, life, and learning are all evident in his exuberant personality. Sean Flakelar, General Manager of the Amanjiwo in Borobudur Village, is a friend of Dr. Oei, so much so, that a visit to see his collection is one of the excursions offered by Amanjiwo, which promotes the rich and fascinating culture in its environs. The appointment was arranged for us as part of a day to include a temple excursion, which required a long  trek across rice fields, as we were being  transferred by car to our next destination, Losari Coffee Plantation, near Magelang. We were told that Dr. Oei would be available to meet us at 11 AM, and were also warned that he was a very busy man, so would only spend a few minutes with us. The truth is, we spent three wonderful hours with Dr. Oei, who walked us through his collection that is housed in his home and two adjacent museum buildings. We were essentially given a course that could be entitled: Contemporary Art History of Indonesia,  with the “pre-requisite” being a deep and thorough knowledge of modern and contemporary western art history from the late 19th-20th century. The tour was so fascinating because we learned so much about the evolution of modern art in this part of the world, as it was inspired by the Dutch artists living and working here, as well as by the tumultuous Indonesian politics, religion, and folk tales. Paris,  London, New York, Amsterdam, and other major western cities, where some of these local artists traveled and lived, also informed and influenced the modern and contemporary Indonesian art and artists. Dr. Oei kept us riveted with his stories of his acquisitions, the lives of artists in his collection, and the influences on the works of art. He is a collector who looks for quality in the works he collects, plus an indication of strength  and risk as portrayed through the the artists‘  courage and singular vision. I have never seen a person smile more readily or laugh more heartily than Dr. Oei, who has been portrayed by so many of the artists whose work he collects.  His 69th birthday netted many gifts from artists in his collection, most portraits of the the collector. His son’s wedding, which must have been a splendid event, honored the host with several two-dimensional representations of Dr. Oei’s face, applied to celebrity and ordinary citizens’ photographs: everything from a parking lot attendant to Brad Pitt, posing as Mr. Smith with Angelina Jolie for  the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith.  One of the funniest pieces in the collection is an electronic, talking  sculpture which wears Dr. Oei’s own clothes, the work given by the artist to Dr. Oei as a surprise. It portrays the affable doctor, talking and laughing nonstop, when activated by a metal plate upon which the viewer stands. This was truly a memorable afternoon!

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. Dr. Oei, standing on the upper level galleries of the OHD Art Museum.  2. OHD, manipulated photograph cutout on board, both sides, by Moch Basori. Dr. Oei portrayed as parking lot attendant, his laugh and smile on his photograph was applied to the other’s two-dimensional body. 3. How to Explain a Picture to a Dead Hare c. 2008, spray paint and acrylic on canvas by Arie Dyanto (b. 1974). 4. The OHD Museum of Art., entrance courtyard. Dr. Oei commissioned the mural, which is by H. Widayat. Center, Top:  Nyang Ndak Bisa Diem (He Cannot Pause) c. 2006  Mixed media (fiberglass, wig, carto, spectacles, cotton shirt,wool panteloons, leather belt & shoes) by Yuswantoro Adi (b. 1966)  Center, Bottom:  OHD, manipulated photograph cutout on board, both sides, by Moch Basori. It portrays Dr. Oei on the body of Brad Pitt  posed back to back with Angelina Jolie. Dr. Oei told us that his second passion, ballroom dancing. He has ended dance competitions in this pose ... so suave! Right Column: 1. Alone but Never Lonely c. 2008, oil on canvas by Yuswantoro Adi (b.1966) 2. Sempul Seni  Rupa Kita c. 2008, oil  on canvas by Pius Sigit Kuncoro (b. 1974) 3. Dr. Oei standing before a series of 7 paintings: Report Taste #1 - 7 c. 2006 , pencil and acrylic on canvas by Bayu Yuliansyah (b. 1976). This is a work of art in response to a proposal by the Indonesian government to more strictly redefine pornography. The government’s trespass into these matters is such an affront  to the art community, that the residents on the island of Bali have threatened to secede from the country if these laws are passed. This artwork ties in with Dr. Oei’s tobacco business, while alluding to the mind of men with thoughts of women ... the cigarette smoke gradually forms the shape of a nude female body as the week, the canvasses, and the cigarettes burn; and, the body of a woman materializes as the smoke progresses. 4. Henry and Dr. Oei in the museum forecourt.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                        BACK TO MAP  PAGE