Artistic Values

Esti Nurjadin leads D Gallerie in raising public awareness through contemporary arts.

- Marella Putri

Artworks have a wide range of purposes, from providing aesthetic pleasure and awareness to the public, to serving as items of business for artists, galleries, and collectors. Different genres attract different markets, and D Gallerie has created some revolutionary perspectives on contemporary art since it was founded in 2001 – and refreshed in 2006. Among the many changes it has brought about, D Gallerie was the first commercial gallery to promote photographic artists in Indonesia back in 2010 through Wimo Ambala Bayang, and also the first to promote graffiti artists in Indonesia, such as Jakarta-based Darbotz back in 2009, and recently France-based Kongo.

Located in South Jakarta, D Gallerie was founded by Aswad Dipo to channel his interest in modern Indonesian art and as well as Indonesian old masters. When the gallery director resigned, his daughter, Esti Nurjadin convinced him to let her continue running the gallery rather than closing it down. Esti took over the gallery in 2006, she changed the concept and started over again completely, turning it into a commercial gallery, and focusing on what she was interested in: contemporary art, promoting young and emerging artists, and creating programs to attract people. Having only the gallery building with which to start anew, Esti auctioned off her paintings to earn her first capital to allow her to operate. She began building her network by going to various exhibitions such as in Bandung and Jogjakarta—where she met other artists and gallery curators.