Curating
Collections.
Sally Hirst X Mia Tjahjadi and GULA
“I felt like I was going on a magical trip to Bali every week. I hope the artwork I chose also transports you to Bali. I hope to persuade my parents to take me to visit Bali one day. “
– Sally Hirst, Artist
Curating Collections commissions disabled artists to curate projects with artworks from an established international collection.
“Over several weeks in late 2022 and early 2023, Sally Hirst connected with Mia Tjahjadi over Zoom, to find out more about her family’s art collection (built up over many years) and consisting of works made by artists in Indonesia. Mia has set up GULA Art Space to properly document and showcase some of her family’s art collection.
After hearing about Sally’s interests in local culture and history, women artists, and animals, Mia spent time using this knowledge to source artwork from the collection, to share with Sally based on these interests. Finally, after several weeks of sharing a variety of artworks from Mia, Sally narrowed down her selection to ten artworks. During this process, Sally also began audio describing the artworks in her own unique way, with poetry.
Sally’s reasons for selecting these particular artists and artworks have really intrigued us all, as she has related many of them back to the four elements: fire, air, earth and water. This idea encouraged me to look at the works in a different light, from a concept that would not have initially sprung to mind. This is what Art et al. love about our Curating Collections programme – it constantly surprises both us and the collectors, the way that the studio-based artists select and group together artworks. Long may we be able to foster more collaborations like this.”
– Jennifer Gilbert, co-Founder Art et al.
This project is part of Art et al. X Ketemu, which is funded by the British Council as part of their International Collaboration Grants.
Elements of Bali
Above is the e-catalogue designed by Studio Mono, featuring all of Sally’s selected artworks, her written text about why she chose the ten artworks and Mia’s text about how they worked together. If you click on the button on the bottom right it will make it full screen. You can also click on the PDF here instead, if that is easier for you. This will open as a downloaded document.
excerpt of ‘Elements of Bali’ by Sally, from e-catalogue
"I chose all my favourite artworks I learnt about. I chose the title Elements of Bali because the artworks I chose remind me of the elements of the earth. ‘The Elephant’ painted using coffee by Rudi Sri Handoko reminds me of the element 'earth' because both coffee and the elephant come from the earth. The ‘ENVY’ bag by Astari Rasjid, with the gun inside reminds me of the element 'fire' because of firing the gun and the anger caused by envy. The woman dancing with the blue background (‘Diah Kili Suci Dancing’) by Ida Bagus Indra reminds me of the element 'air' because her arms and dress are flowing… she looks like she's dancing in the air. The 2-metre-tall head shaped statue by Dadang Christanto (‘The Ever-Evolving Face’) reminds me of the element 'fire' because there is fire featured in the work and the people are screaming and look distressed.
I liked learning about the history and culture of Bali and Indonesia whilst looking at the stunning artworks. I like that artwork makes learning about history and culture more engaging, interesting, accessible, and less overwhelming.”
Elements of Bali
Below are two artworks that Sally chose from the GULA Art Collection as part of her curated selection. Sally is very passionate about making things more accessible for others. For every selected artwork that features in the digital booklet, she has written a creative audio poem. She reads these out as part of her recorded audio of all the text in the booklet. Below, you will also find Sally’s full recording of the booklet, should you wish to listen.
Underneath the two artworks here, are the written versions of the creative audio poems, as examples that we wanted to share. Sally would like you to listen to the short Indonesian/Balinese music that features as audio links under each artwork, whilst you read the descriptive poem out loud.
Ida Bagus Indra
Diah Kili Suci Dancing, 2009
Acrylic on canvas
400 x 200cm
Audio poem by Sally
1. Magical blue painting with hints of white
2. Beautiful woman dancing in middle
3. Dragon behind such a wonderful sight
4. Painting Makes you want to dance and jiggle
5. Opaque white swirls coming out her hands
6. I Like the power you see in the air
7. A feel of movement all across the land
8. Wearing bright red lipstick and gold in hair
9. Wears Opaque greyish blue flowing dress
10. Dragon blends in background subtle and soft
11. Every move she did was sure to impress
12. The colours used creates a cold blue frost
13. Could be a character from childhood tale
14. How dance makes him feel painted in detail
Audio credit: Kapi Radja (Ape King) by Peliatan Gamelan
Gong, angklung and gender wayang of Peliatan under the direction of Anak Agung Gedé Mandera from Dancers of Bali, Gamelan of Peliatan 1952 album, released by World Arbiter (2006) in collaboration with Edward Herbst and Bali 1928.
Huang Da Lai
Unknown, 1995
Oil on canvas
120 x 138cm
Audio poem by Sally Hirst
1. Young Girl with black hair that blends in background
2. Wearing a traditional dance costume
3. White filled designs yellow hints on red gown
4. Cream coloured Flower designs on dress bloom
5. There are Silver gems stuck onto her wrist
6. hHnd holding her foot cross legged sat on floor
7. Looking at us Her body has slight twist
8. This picture of the girl I do Adore
9. I love the yellow tassels on her dress
10. On her wrist She wear bangles red and gold
11. Not sure starting or finished I confess
12. On dress I like layers textures and folds
13. It’s such a realistic portrait of girl
14. Patterns on dress have a lot of nice swirls
Audio credit: Gamelan Music for Sahadewa Barong Dance
Recorded by Oliver Gamblin and Lavinya Scholl
“I found it challenging selecting which art I would like to include, because it was all so beautiful. I liked that it [the process] made learning about Bali’s amazing culture and history more engaging and accessible. It’s more exciting and easier than reading a long textbook. I really enjoyed working with Mia as she spoke passionately about the art collection and gave us lots of exciting information.”
- Sally Hirst, 2023
Sally Hirst (b. 2001) is a talented illustrator, textile artist, and ceramicist. She is a socially engaged artist with much of her work being inspired by the people around her. Her parents are foster carers and her foster family inspires much of her work. Accessibility is at the heart of everything that Sally creates. Sally is based at Venture Arts Studios in Manchester, which is a supported studio working with learning disabled artists.
“Through this collaboration with Ketemu and Art et al., may we inspire people that even though we live across the globe from each other, we are still able to create something truly unique and meaningful. By sharing our love for multiculturalism and love for Indonesian art, we hope to inspire others to explore and celebrate the beauty of different cultures around the world.”
- Mia Tjahjadi, GULA
About GULA: “We are a family of art enthusiasts. We have a diverse collection that we have all contributed to in the span of thirty years. The project started with a desire to share this collection with the world, releasing one series at a time. It then evolved into the idea of designing a space for an art collective that brings creatives together with the goal of introducing unique experiences to the public. With GULA, we push to expand and share the horizons that art continues to bring
to life.”