Meet the exhibitors of ArtMoments Jakarta 2024

Zen1 Gallery, founded by Nicolaus F. Kuswanto, or Nico, is revolutionising the art scene in Bali and Jakarta. Nico, known for his passion for art and fostering relationships between artists and collectors, opened Zen1 Gallery on March 7, 2020, on Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai, Bali. The debut exhibition, The Divine Step, featured 19 contemporary Balinese artists, quickly establishing Zen1 as a key player in Bali’s art scene.

Zen1 expanded on September 16, 2023, opening a new branch on Jl. Purworejo 24, Menteng, Jakarta. This location, combining a gallery and a café, aims to make art more accessible to the public. The opening exhibition, Trans, showcased a fusion of styles from two diverse artists, captivating visitors and broadening the gallery’s reach.

The name Zen1 reflects Nico’s vision: “Zen” symbolises the business aspect, while “1” represents the gallery’s ambition to be the best. Additionally, the name draws from the Dutch word “genie,” meaning ingenious, underscoring the gallery’s role in bridging artists and art lovers.

Zen1 Gallery offers after-sales service, art consultancy, and exhibitions, unifying the visions of artists and collectors worldwide. Nico explains that Zen1 is designed to educate the public about art appreciation, making contemporary art accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience. Through Zen1, artists like Radetyo Sindhu Utomo and I Ketut Teja Astawa are showcased, embodying Nico’s ideal artistic realm.

Represented by Ethan Cohen Gallery, Abdoulaye Diarrassouba aka Aboudia is a celebrated artist from Abidjan, a city in Côte d’Ivoire. Growing up poor, he won global acclaim through his expressive paintings that combine street art aesthetics with traditional African influences.

Aboudia has also made his mark through commercial partnerships, including in a Pepsi campaign in 2021, and through his humanitarian works. In fact, the artist has received Côte d’Ivoire’s top cultural prize for philanthropy, and now leads the Aboudia Foundation – a cultural centre and charitable institution that provides access to health and education services for underprivileged artists and children.

Ethan Cohen Gallery, meanwhile, was founded in 1987 and now represents a diverse mix of contemporary artists.

Established in Tokyo back in 1967, Whitestone Gallery is one of the pioneers of Japan’s post-war and contemporary art scene. Its mission is to introduce prominent Japanese talents to the world while nurturing a new approach to Japan’s conventional art market.

Among the artists represented by Whitestone Gallery, a definite highlight would be sculptor duo Li Wei and Liu Zhiyin. Living and working in Beijing, Li Wei specialises in sculpture while Liu Zhiyin focuses on garment design. In their collaborative works, the latter would provide the “form,” while the former creates the “body.”

Another interesting entry in Whitestone Gallery’s portfolio is three, a group of three artists from Fukushima who specialise in three-dimensional works and installations inspired by a plethora of everyday objects, such as anime, action figures, or the commonly seen fish-shaped soy sauce containers.

Aruta Soup has also been a notable attention grabber who fuses anime culture and British humour, having studied in East London. His work centres on current affairs, society, and the psychological states of the human mind.

Other artists represented by the Whitestone Gallery include contemporary artist Etsu Egami, sculptor Miyako Terakura, painter Kohei Kyomori, and painter Nobuko Watabiki.

Over the last 26 years, The Columns Gallery has established itself as one of Asia’s leading galleries of contemporary art, showcasing leading Korean artists to global collectors.

In 2019, The Columns Gallery opened a new location in Singapore as part of its global expansion to further promote Korean contemporary art throughout Southeast Asia. The Singapore site carries on the gallery’s legacy of presenting carefully chosen and varied shows, giving the artists being represented a chance to interact with a wider audience. As such, The Columns Gallery has been acknowledged as being instrumental in elevating well-known artists including Do Ho Suh, Kimsooja, and Lee Ufan.

The Columns Gallery makes sure that these prominent Korean artists get the exposure and chances they merit by taking part in international art fairs and working with foreign organizations. As a global hub for innovation and cross-cultural interchange, the gallery is a shining example of modern art excellence.

A curated online art gallery headquartered in Singapore, MayinArt has made a name for itself as a leading platform for known and up-and-coming artists from across the world, with a particular emphasis on Indonesia and India. MayinArt was established to find real artists in even the most remote places, and it now provides amazing artworks to art lovers all around the world.

To further demonstrate its dedication to presenting distinctive and culturally relevant artwork, MayinArt opened a physical location in Singapore in 2019. More than 2,000 unique works can be found among MayinArt’s varied collection.

MayinArt highlights the enduring cultural ties between India and Indonesia, which date back to the first century CE. This rich interchange has significantly influenced artistic traditions in both countries, particularly in Java and Bali. The platform’s dedication to this artistic dialogue enhances the appreciation of both Indian and Indonesian art non a global scale. Elements of this cross implantation of Indonesia and Indian culture will be showcased in Booth A14 at the ArtMoments Jakarta 2024.

Paintings, sculptures, and ceramics are just a few of the many artistic mediums that are displayed at the well-known Gallery Woo in Busan, South Korea. Exhibitions of various art forms, such as paintings, sculptures, and ceramics, are the focus of Gallery Woo, through which exceptional artists are introduced to the dynamic realm of Korean art.

Gallery Woo specializes in providing art advice for residential and public areas, and has vast expertise directing and producing exhibits. The establishment serves as a conduit between the international art scene and outstanding Korean artists. A prominent participant in several international art fairs, including KIAF, Art Busan, PULSE Miami, Art Taipei, and Art Central Hong Kong, the gallery is also well-known for its its skills in organizing and running shows.

Among the artists represented by Gallery Woo, there’s Han Choong-seok who specialises in using Gwangmokcheon (a cloth made from Korean cotton) instead of regular canvas, Takahiro Matsumoto who utilizes human faces as a foundation for his artworks, and many others.