Last month, I was lucky enough to be able to make a pilgrimage to the museum, which was located at 11 West 53 Street. I came to MoMA without any prior expectations. It was just there, written inside my NYC to-go list, and I thought, “Why not?” Also, note that I was in no way an art expert. I enjoyed viewing artworks and reading articles or books about them, but the art world didn’t excite me as much as, say, fashion. In short, I’m an art amateur.

And yet, what I experienced in MoMA was beyond my non-existent expectations. It touched a certain spot in me that made me realize how beautiful and moving art can be. It also pushed me in a certain way, to be more knowledgeable about this enticing and slightly mystical realm.

Here is my account of being inside the MoMA on one chilly February day.

1.00 PM – Lobby

I just couldn’t wait to get inside MoMA I almost ran from the 5 Avenue-53 Street subway station to the museum—main reason: it was cold! Once inside and warm, I went directly to the ticket booth at the lobby. Since I was a student, I only had to pay $12 instead of the regular adult admission price ($20). Yes, it was quite pricey, but seeing the size of the building and the amount of people MoMA hired for the museum, no wonder. (Just for illustration, there were at least two security persons placed in each of its countless galleries.) So, basically the money went into a good cause.

Once I was inside the ticket-holder side of the lobby, I started to wander around and soak in the atmosphere. It was a Saturday afternoon, which made the museum crowded by tourists of various nationalities. The building was hands down amazing. Spacious, glaring with natural light, and surrounded by glasses overlooking the museum’s garden, it was designed by the Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi.

1.15 PM – Contemporary Galleries

As I was perusing the floor plan in the MoMA guide, a phrase piqued my interest: “contemporary galleries.” As the name suggests, the galleries contain artworks by artists from the1980s until now.

2.00 PM – Painting and Sculpture I

Going directly to the fifth floor, there was the Painting and Sculpture I gallery, showcasing mostly European art, dating back to the 1880s—arguably, the time when the word “modern” can start to be applied to art. This is where some of the world’s most valuable paintings are on view.

I was quite shocked when I saw Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night (1889) right in front of me. To be able to witness in person a painting so famous it had been referenced to in many manifestations of pop culture was such a great feat in itself. I also sat in front of Claude Monet’s Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond (1920), trying to absorb in this majestic impressionist piece from almost a century ago.

Aside than the two, I also saw other magnificent paintings—highlights include Salvador Dalí, Henry Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso. There were also a number of sculptures, such as Constantin Brancusi’s.

2.45 PM – Painting and Sculpture II

Descending to the fourth floor, another gallery for painting and sculpture was located, but this one showed artworks from newer time, starting at around 1950s.

If you were a fan of Pop Art, then there were a lot to savor here. I was especially attracted to Jasper Johns’s ouvre, such as Flag (1954-55) and Target with Four Faces (1955). Not to mention, the Pop Art virtuoso, Andy Warhol, whose Gold Marylin Monroe (1962) and Double Elvis (1963) are on view, among others. Moving on to other genre, I also found a striking “drip” painting by the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock as well as the late Cy Twombly’s works.

All in all, the previous two galleries became my favorite part of MoMA instantly. Filled in every corner by the works of many legendary great artists, it was hard not to.

Continue to the second page.

A wonderful adventure, enjoy A Distant Place From Home

 
……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Rain Chudori: At the age of 16, Rain Chudori has solidified herself as one of Indonesia’s best up and coming writer. Having multiple articles and stories published in media such as The Jakarta Post, Tempo Magazine, and Jakarta Globe. Her writing ranges from short stories to film reviews, showing versatility and a wit not many could match. With such distinction at a young age, the future is bright for this writer.

If your answer is E, never mind reading this article till the end..You know the best, already!But if you never thought that traveling could be so profound enough to inspire yourself and others, keep reading it. I will take your tongue tasting the genuine flavors of Vietnam, a country where motorcycles are street kings and Ca Phe Sua Da* is their Teh Botol!

I suffer a lot knowing that there are not many positive images of Indonesia coming from random friends whom I met during my travel experiences around the globe. Earthquakes, volcanoes, and terrorists in Indonesia are three main issues that were aroused during our talks. So sad, no? I swear by the name of Rendang Padang**, my country is DOPE! I want to tell as many people as I can about this, so I took a leap of faith when I decided to travel with friends to Vietnam, not only to conduct a food pilgrimage, but also to introduce the beautiful Indonesia to local residents of Hanoi. I asked my local friend about this idea, and she was really excited.

So here we were..Summer time, 70 km away from Hanoi, in a suburb neighborhood. A small alley with convoluted electricity cables hanging 50 cm just above your head, dusty road, and stray dogs welcoming us. I saw a beautiful fence made from beige bricks resemble like bee hives pattern, and fortunately, we will be having lunch there. The house resembles a traditional house with teakwood pillars, beautiful carving, and intricate ornaments. Awesome!

Our local host is a warm hearted couple. He used to be one of respectable general during Vietnam War and his wife is a beautiful school teacher who cooked the most authentic northern Vietnam cuisines for all of us. I never seen or ate those foods before, even though it was my third time visiting Vietnam. I guess, home-made cooking is simply the best of all. With attendance from several members of Hanoi Kids Tour, we sat on the floor covered by old newspaper, somehow I wonder why they didn’t use banana leaves like we always use in Indonesia, but well..different culture defines how we sit on the floor, right?

Foods were served starting from appetizers, main course, and desserts. Simple, yet provocative!

For appetizer, there was Banh Duc, a rice cake with peanut, served with sugar cane sauce. Rice is soaked in water for 2-3 days, it was dried well, then milled to become powder. A small amount of lime water was poured into rice powder to make it gristly and sticky. The texture was kind of crisp chewy but not sticky, with a sweet after taste. Then, we had Nom Bo Kho, a mixed salad of chopped carrot, green papaya with a perfect concoction of lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, garlic, lemongrass and chili. Thin sliced dried-beef tossed over the mixture. The taste balanced so well in my mouth, with a mixture of crispy and soft textures of vegetables with a meaty taste.

We moved on to main courses, starting from Oc Chuoi Dau: a kind of food that is considered as tonic, with a mixture of some special fresh vegetables which is good for health. This combination of snails, tofu and green banana with a subtle yellow broth really did taste great with rice noodles or hot steam rice. My favorite, already – somehow the green banana did an overwhelming pairing with snails. Brilliant! Besides the snails, we had Pho Cuon: rice paper to roll the sautéed beef, bean sprouts and fresh vegetables. dip it in fish sauce which we enjoyed so much. It was so refreshing to consume lots of greenies in our Vietnamese diet. Vietnam has enormous collection of vegetables with distinctive fragrances that after you eat all of those, you feel like you want to kiss 1.000 men with confidence!

We did an amazing travel by enjoying great foods but at the same time we did good and we felt good too.You can do the same way like I did! I challenge you to be a participatory traveler by not only enjoying sightseeing or consuming heavy dose of hedonism during your travel. Bring postcards of Indonesia, Indonesian CD music, or even Indonesian small snacks. Hand it over to random people whom you have met during your travel, it can be your concierge, hotel reception, taxi driver, tour guide, waiter, or your holiday romance partner..You might be surprised how small actions can bring big impact towards your life.

Ca Phe Sua Da = Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk
Rendang Padang= West Sumatra spicy caramelized beef

*Source: Wall Street Journal

Let’s begin with Asia Art Archive in Hong Kong. The name says it all. Obtaining rare materials directly from artists and exhibitions, Asia Art Archive has built an extensive (and exclusive) collection throughout the years. It is widely celebrated as an exceptional destination for scholars in South and Southeast Asian contemporary art.

*Source: Art Coop

Analytically crisp, jargon free and packed with fresh illustrations; The Brooklyn Art Library is an equally effective platform for those who seek a lucid and honest perception of the universe. One will find numerous moleskin sketchbooks—from the highly praised Sketchbook Project—that will enchant even the most disenchanted of us. I truly admire Art House Co-Op for their innovative program and unique collecting initiative. So kids, get your library cards ready!

*Source: New York Times

As much as I hate to admit, it is mind-boggling how easy it is to give in to my compulsive urges and purchase publications rather than do research in an institution. However, despite the hard-to-resist temptations of art, architecture and design bookstores, it is always wise to think twice before dropping bills. Whether you are strapped for cash or simply snooping around for a good read, St Bride Library is one of the finest havens that shelters books in the realm of printing, typography, and graphic arts. You will be on your knees when you see the collection of materials they have on their shelves.

*Source: Inaya Graciana Yusuf

If I really have an itch of “owning” something, there is one spot I would occasionally look into. The leading light of art bookstores is undoubtedly Printed Matter, Inc., which specializes in artist-made publications across all visual art, design and performance art practices. Commencing debates on contemporary art as well as being a full supporter to artist-lead discussions, Printed Matter offers its services on a silver platter. This year, they are moving on to their 6th year anniversary in hosting the NY Art Book Fair, an annual event for the intellectual literary aesthetes.

*Source: Flickr

In other instances, I would likely turn to vintage artwork and material goods. After Gallagher’s Paper Collectibles in Manhattan close down its doors back in 2007, I never really found a shop that lived up to Michael and Mary Gallagher’s taste. However, it was not until recently that a trip to Paris lead me to discover Les Archives de la Presse, a sacred place housing awe-inspiring collections of periodicals from the 19th century to present. It is common to find both old and new occupying the same space, providing an exciting juxtaposition in which to examine the thriving contemporary art culture.

*Source: Il Museo del Lourve

Il Museo del Louvre in Rome is another genuine find described by my boyfriend as a goldmine for vintage photography. As soon as you walk in, you would feel like you have hit the mother load. There would be rows of old photographs loosely organized, either by size or subject; and some others, are mounted in a fashionable manner. The shop is modestly curated out of pure love and above all means, it is owned by a very pleasant Italian couple extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to photography.

*Source: Flickr

If you enjoy gastronomic adventures and are motivated to expand your taste palette by experimenting in the kitchen, look no further. Tucked away in a charming, 1815 brick townhouse, it was a miracle that I stumbled upon this hidden gem. Yes, it is that easy to walk past this antiquarian shop after going through the hustle and bustle of Soho. Joanne Hendricks Cookbooks is an eccentric street-level shop in downtown Manhattan that specializes in antique cookbooks and cookware. The most unsettling part, in my opinion, is the pricing. It is sometimes unaffordable but on the other hand, the romantic experience of browsing through old recipes and traditions or taking a closer look at book design and collectibles from the past just evens it out.

*Source: Black Gold Records

Moving on to other random but equally alluring localities, I stumbled upon a place called Black Gold Records, Coffee and Antiques. Situated in the heart of Carroll Gardens neighborhood in Brooklyn, this spot is an enticing proposition overall. It’s a one-stop-destination for inspiration seekers and thrill hunters. Sadly, I was not geeking out on the record collection—I was drooling over the old school cover designs.

*Source: Inaya Graciana Yusuf

When it comes to vintage European furniture, mirrors, chandeliers, antique decorations and rare collectibles, I must admit, I am quite a sucker for it. Pinsheerlijk Antiek in Amsterdam is a prominent family-owned spot to find elegant, historical and rustic pieces. Hands down one of the best antique shops I have encountered in my short life thus far.

*Source: Wandering Danny

Lastly, since my typography and letterpress professor in the past raves how graphic arts came about, it would be a shame for me not to pay tribute to The Basel Paper Mill. Also known as the Swiss Museum for Paper, Writing and Printing, this divine institution takes us back to the world of letterpress printing. The center has been around since the 18th century! Unmistakably, it is a crucial resource that educates us on the history of writing, paper production, printing techniques and the art of bookbinding.

This puts an end to my condensed bucket list. Drawing upon a rich array of examples, I have come to a conclusion that it is not wisdom that enables us to create (or destroy), rather the right mixture of intuition and inspiration. Bon chance!

Fortunately, my family always instilled in me a love for Indonesia, which at times I misunderstood. Having spent most of my life in New York, at one point I truly considered myself American. But there was always a nagging feeling in the pit of my soul, gnawing at me, whispering to me, telling me that I could never be a part of any other country but Indonesia. It is this inexplicable, deep-rooted love that always brings me back to the country I admire and cherish, yet also lament for all at once.

In the three and a half years of Indonesian education, I experienced the harshness of life. Granted, I was only nine when it all first started, but the kids at school were very mean to me. It was not just my peers who treated me like a sack of rotten potatoes, though. My teachers also played a part in making me feel unwelcomed in my own country. It was unfortunate, but true. I was beaten with wooden 18-inch rulers, had books thrown at me, was slapped in the face once, and was given other less savory punishments by those who were supposed to have been my guides and inspiration.

Before those three years, I went to school in Switzerland where kids were treated like gods, so you can imagine the culture shock I received upon returning to an Indonesian school system. That was why I welcomed the day my father took us to New York, where at least, there were laws on how to deal with children abuse at schools. And then I swore that I would never return to Indonesia, that I would never love an Indonesian, that I would never trust my country ever again.

But then, after 17 years of New York life (believe me, the United States ain’t all it’s cracked up to be either), that nagging feeling came back, knocking even harder than before. I still had trepidations about living in Indonesia in general, but the dawning of a new era was around the corner. The old Indonesian regime had toppled and a new breed of young, fresh, and broad-minded society was taking over. I could feel the change seeping through the cracks. Or maybe it was only me with a renewed sense of confidence. Perhaps it was only my imagination, but I was willing to embrace it either way.

To be honest, after a while, life in New York can get jaded. I saw it all, partied up, raised the roof, fell flat on my face, and experienced all the highs and lows a woman possibly could in the city that never sleeps. It was truly the time to move on, so I took that 18-hour flight to Jakarta and decided not to look back.

However, in the end, the Indonesian people helped me persist. Yes, you could argue that I was subject to estrangement by these same folks in my younger days, but then again, I had to realign my mindset and admit that alienation is a personal construct. I did not have to blame an entire country for the acts of a few individuals. And it was partly my own fault for feeling dejected and cornered.

With perseverance and a new-found understanding, I was able to fill in the puzzles piece by piece. I discovered a sweetness in the Indonesian people, though I’m afraid of generalizing once again. Their curiosity, warmth, and acceptance contributed to my enjoying this journey. With apologies for sounding like a slogan from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this country is truly only a smile away. In this place, I found people who enjoy being with others, who open their doors to their friends, and who willingly share happiness with each other. Or perhaps it was just me.

To put it simply, the combination of my own personal growth and the openness of the Indonesian soul resulted in a strong foundation. I don’t claim to understand the Indonesian psyche completely. There are always exceptions to the rule, and sometimes Indonesian people’s reluctance to be “upfront” about unpleasant truths really confuses me. But overall, I have learned to work around the smaller details.

And thus the journey continues, which like all other roads sometimes pass through stony paths. But along the way, I’ve met many fascinating people with amazing stories who have made me feel welcomed. It’s a feat in itself that I can finally say “I am at home.”

*Source: New York Times

Let’s begin with a venue. A favorite has to be Tonic. This club in the Lower East Side became legendary during its lifetime, known for housing some of the world, certainly New York’s, most creative music personalities. Tonic was a humble looking place, I can’t really say anything about the décor other than it’s pretty bare, but I have seen plenty of great, creative musicians there and that’s really all I can ask for in a venue. Everybody from John Zorn, Acid Mother Temple, Cibo Matto to Yoko Ono have performed there, and I was very lucky to watch what perhaps is my favorite group, Yura Yura Teikoku, perform their first US show there. It has sadly closed its doors in 2007. My gratitude, Tonic, you have curated some of my favorite shows there.

*Source: South East Review

The Nuyorican Poets Café is a historical place in alphabet city, where a number of great poets (duh!) made it their stomping grounds. I first visited the place to watch Braggin’ Rites, a regular freestyle battle program that became a staple of the independent hip-hop circuit in New York. This was also the place where I first saw Saul Williams perform his uber-charismatic slam poetry at a random night. After a couple of visits there, I found out The Nuyorican Poets Café’s rich history, how it started in the 70s and continues to support the local art scene until today.

*Source: Disco Salt

For the more current wave of independent bands there is no better place than Cake Shop. This two floor Lower East Side bakery/record shop/bar/venue has a string of really good bands playing there regularly. It’s the place where I got to see groups such as Crystal Stilts, Gang Gang Dance, Zs, and the Long Blondes. You can really find an excellent performances here on any given night, and now they have opened a sister venue out in Brooklyn, Bruar Falls, so be sure to check that place out as well.

*Source: Light in the attic

My week is not complete without visiting at least one record shop. Now there are plenty of great music shops all around the city, but there is one particular store I visited regularly for a decade, and that store would be Other Music. A record shop with a selection of the popular and the obscure is not uncommon, but this shop between Broadway and Lafayette seem to select their records pretty carefully in comparison to others, and luckily for me what they carry in their store 90 percent of the time I would enjoy so when I enter I never really have to dig (I sometimes would just walk in and pick up a random record and would be happy with the purchase). The staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable about music so you can trust their recommendation and get schooled about music all at in the same conversation. Don’t skip this store when you visit New York.

*Source: Marie Claire

Moving on to my favorite eateries! One that really doesn’t need mentioning is Taisho! a St. Marks, mainly yakitori-serving joint which sometimes seems like a mecca for many Indonesians (the last couple of years, every time enter there would be a group of Indonesian kids there haha). The menu there definitely revolves around comfort food, with portions relatively large at an affordable price. I forgot when exactly, but in the 2000s they opened a second Taisho! on the same street, which is great because the restaurant seems to attract larger and larger crowds as the years went on; I sometimes had to wait an hour on weekends for one seat before the second place opened. Be sure to order the chicken skin (Kawa) yakitori when you dine here, and don’t forget to ask it to be made extra crispy!

*Source: NY Mag

Do Hwa, oh Do Hwa, how I love you. This Korean restaurant in the West Village is probably the one place besides home I frequented the most in recent years. They serve up some of the best Korean food in the city (certainly the best in the west village) and the presentations of the dishes are quite nice. The amount of Dak Teegim I’ve eaten there is sort of ridiculous. The décor is quite stylish but not in that cold-detached sort of way, a very comfortable place with a very warm wooden black colorway accentuated by splashes of red and off white. The staff is a super-friendly and knowledgeable bunch that I miss dearly, and my favorite activity when dining or drinking there is to just sit at the bar and stare at the films they always project on a wall.

*Source: Me so hungry

Great New York Noodletown is not the best noodle place in Chinatown, but is my favorite place to get roast pork or barbeque pig. Open late, my fellow Whiteboard Journalist and lover, Mar Galo, used to take me there after watching shows at Knitting Factory when it was still located on Leonard Street. I loved their fine pork treats so much that I sometimes would buy a pound of those succulent dishes to take home then fill my belly with piggies for about a day.

*Source: NY Go

Now shopping, a place I often entered mainly due to our editor-in-chief is consignment store – Tokio 7. This shop selects their apparel very carefully so you will definitely find something you will like when you enter. The prices are relatively cheap compared to their original retail prices, and if you are patient enough the prices slowly becomes more affordable, if another shopper hasn’t snatched the item up, that is.

For books, head to Strand, this book store off Union Square is as gigantic as your favorite Barnes and Nobles with twice, perhaps thrice the amount of books. It can be a little hectic in there with the foot traffic, and the often-disheveled bookcases can be a little over-whelming. If you’re lucky enough you will be able to pick up some pretty rare books in there, perhaps even 1st prints!

*Source: The Scout

The Whitney Museum is an excellent place to look at fine art. Their permanent collection is quite small; the main attraction here is their exhibits, which often revolves around modern and contemporary works. I always try to attend their Biennial, which has the Whitney select works from the finest artists currently producing work.

*Source: NY Architecture

Now, one of the greatest museums on the planet is the Metropolitan Museum. This humongoid museum has permanent collections from all around the world that will leave you in awe. With works that date back to something-thousand BC, this is the place for you to see art history in person.

There are plenty more places I love to visit in New York City (I haven’t even mentioned places in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island) but we’ll have to save those places for another day. As I was writing this article, every time I wrote of a place I thought of another place in close proximity I’d like to write about, so if I kept on going this will never end hahaha. Point is, there are plenty of places which caters to different groups of people in New York worthy of mention, so be sure to head there and experience it for yourself.