art in design

Photography, the Deborah Iskandar

Art Consultant New Favourite of —

Deborah Iskandar is Principal of ISA Corporate Collectors Advisory, which advises clients on buying and selling art, and building collections. An expert on Indonesian and Besides friendly colleagues and a fair boss, the work environment international art, she and the office space in general have a great impact on the well-being has more than 20 years of experience of the employees, consequently affecting the success of a business. in Southeast Research has repeatedly shown that displaying art in an office space Asia, heading has positive effects on the creativity, efficiency and productivity of both Sotheby’s and Christie’s the staff. Based on my experience in running ISA Art Advisory and during after frequently working with corporate clients, I have noticed that her career before 01 establishing ISA Art art can set the mood or tone in the office. Advisory in 2013. She is also the Founder photos by Bagus Tri Laksono of Indonesian Luxury, the definitive online resource for Indonesian’s looking e bring art into the office not One of our recent corporate art programs was for to acquire, build and simply to surrender ourselves with Citi Indonesia’s new office at Citibank Tower at style their luxury more colour, but to emphasise SCBD in Jakarta. Citibank would like to have a fresh homes. the individual character of our and lively art piece that aligns with Citi’s corporate workspace.W With our clients, we have successfully culture, therefore we suggested photography, ISA Art Advisory® combined art with the corporate world by an edgy alternative which also has more variety Jl. Wijaya Timur Raya organising temporary exhibitions and installing in terms of the theme to be selected. We came No. 12 permanent sculptures and paintings in offices. up with a concept focusing on trees, inspired by Jakarta 12170, Visitors can admire artworks when doing business unstoppable growth, solid roots and the basic Indonesia with the company, while the employees benefit principles of Citibank. The selection of artworks t. +6221 723 3905 from a stimulating atmosphere. presenting Indonesian sceneries and the tree as e. vip.enquiries@ a metaphor was chosen to reflect and reinforce isaartadvisory.com Visual art has the power to convey values and Citi Indonesia’s corporate identity of strength emotions better than words, and it is a language and growth. which can be understood universally across language barriers. Art can also help express the Photography is an accessible form of art, often mission and vision of the company or create an more relatable and delivering a more literal image for a brand. At ISA, we believe that everyone message than other mediums, also explaining can and should enjoy art, therefore our aim is to why photography is popular as corporate art bring art out in the public, directly to the people. in office surroundings. Surprisingly, collecting

94 | Working Spaces Working Spaces | 95 art in design photography has also proved to be a Continuing with the tree theme, we artworks were selected for the Citibank project: Parang Excursion great investment, as shown by the chose a two-metre sculpture by Redy set in the Maldives with Erza posing in a luxurious from sale of Andreas Gursky’s Rhein II, Rahadian to welcome guests at the Iwan Tirta’s collection, and The Royal Escape in the Sunda Kelapa which sold at $4.3 million in 2011. The reception desk. An interpretation of Port, a perfect demonstration of the stark contrasts in Jakarta, international acclaim of contemporary Rahadian’s Red Red (2016), the steel where luxury meets the quotidian. Indonesian photographers is a great sculpture resembles an elephant indication of the new trend; artists foot tree covered in red paint. When Finally, typical Indonesian sceneries shot by Alexander Thian and such as Agan Harahap and his digitally examined closer, one can see that the Yoppy Pieter gave the CEO’s office a new atmosphere. We put a manipulated photographs and Angki trunk is formed of people climbing mosaic composed of nearly 200 photos of Indonesian sceneries Purbandono with his scanography and pushing each other to the top, in the CEO’s office, depicting Lake Toba and the magical beauty photos have a growing fanbase. For the reminding us that teamwork is essential of Pusuk Buhit to bring back memories of the CEO of where he is recent Citibank project we also chose for success. The higher it gets, the fewer originated. These two locations are considered holy by the people Indonesian photographers, including people there are, indicating that only of North Sumatra. Meanwhile, Yoppy Pieter’s black and white Yoppy Pieter and Alexander Thian, who the very best succeed and actually reach The Mountain Whisper series found its home in the meeting is the other half of the upcoming artist the top. room. A peek into the Indonesian rural life, each photo has a collaboration The Jux Duo. story to tell bringing a piece of the country’s rich culture into the Citibank Jakarta has the honour to be hectic business hub of Jakarta. For its new location, Citibank was the first of our corporate clients to searching for something slightly collect The Jux Duo’s beautiful works. Decorating an office space is something I always enjoy unconventional, therefore for the A collaboration between photographer enormously, as it is challenging yet extremely rewarding to hallway we created a quadryptich Alexander Thian and multitalent achieve a result coherent with the corporate identity of the photo installation from Thian’s low- Erza S.T., their concept could be client. Keeping employees content can only benefit the work angle tree photograph. Inspired by described as the hedonistic traveller environment and the wise placement of unusual artworks can renowned Finnish video artist Eija-Liisa seen through the lens of a nomad spark a conversation with potential clients. According to ISA’s Ahtila’s projected multi-channel piece, photographer. The duo travels around philosophy, the visual aspect of an office is as important as the we installed Thian’s photos in a mirror the world to showcase batik fabrics by quality of services it offers, since this can reflect and enhance style to achieve a unique pattern. Thian Iwan Tirta shot in historical locations a business’ core values. Details do matter, therefore art and shot the original photo in the magical and landmarks, which are used as design elements can either support or transform the image of scenery of Imogiri forest in . settings for capturing the essence 04 the brand. Often an impression, good or bad, can make or break Similar trees grow all over Indonesia of Indonesian heritage and tradition the deal! and can be understood as a metaphor in a contemporary . Thian’s for Citibank, a well-rooted and steadily sensitivity and way of capturing the growing enterprise with branches all light and movement through his lens 02 over the country. complement Erza’s lavish poses. Two 01 The Royal Escape in Citi Indonesia - Front Office’s board room 02 Red Red, a sculpture by Redy Rahadian 03 A magical scenery of Imogiri forest in Yogyakarta by Alexander Thian in Citi Indonesia - Front Office’s hallway 04 Parang Excursion in Citi Indonesia - Front Office’s board room 05 A schematic skyline by Kendra Ahimsa in a corner of the Work Café of Citi Indonesia 03 05 - General Office

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