In recent years there are many changes in the production and acceptance of contemporary art in Yogyakarta. The artists are no longer oriented to the creation or invention of individual and unique new forms in producing works of art.
"There has been a paradigm shift in the production and acceptance of art. Various works of contemporary art produced by Yogyakarta artists are getting more diverse, ironical and parodical," Drs. Hariyanto, M. Hum., said in an open examination of his Doctoral Program on Wednesday (15/2) at UGM Graduate School.
Hariyanto mentioned the production process of art works today is freer because artists use many strategies, borrowing forms from different ages or cultures. Advances in technology inspire the creation of art works. Images of modern technology such as speed, simplicity, rationality, metallic impression and accuracy are expressed in the form of lines and colors in the works of modern art.
"In the post-modern era technology is not limited to be made reference in the work, but also as a tool to work and be part of new media art, including video art, multimedia art, sound art, as well as computer art," the man born in Temanggung, May 1, 1958 said.
In his dissertation entitled Contemporary Art in Yogyakarta from year 1975 to 2010: Identity and Change, the lecturer of Department of Art and Design Faculty of Letters, Malang State University said that the artists in Yogyakarta play identity politics in their works. Identity politics that characterize the production of contemporary art works in Yogyakarta are very diverse. The diversity suggests that cultural identity is plural. Plurality of cultural identity is caused by the crossing between various cultures that can easily affect the artists. Cultural identity is reflected in the works of contemporary art between 1975-2010 which can be identified into several prominent themes, such as migrant, gender, urban, socio-political and local-global issues.
"The dynamics that are experienced by the artists added with swift global culture became the key driver which builds the identity of Yogyakarta artists," he explained.
Hariyanto added that socio-economic condition of Yogyakarta people which is diverse and supported by Yogyakarta's cultural heritage, which becomes the source of value and creative economy, and the role of intellectuals and artists make Yogyakarta a multicultural city. Such pluralism is used as a capital for the artists in the art work to uphold the spirit of pluralism.