German recession, Thatcher on Fukuyama, Indonesian hot rods & Philippines booming

Great links, reading and images from Chartbook Newsletter by Adam Tooze

Jan 30, 2023

Affandi, Untitled (I think) 1982 Source: Visual ethnological

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For background on postwar Indonesian art, I found this contemporary piece in the Atlantic magazine by Trisno Sumardjo fascinating.

A new, distinct period began in 1945, when the struggle for liberty brought artists into direct contact, with hard realities. There was much selfexamination and exploration of new techniques and new means of expression, some seeking inspiration in the old traditional forms, some adapting European influences (mostly French), some pursuing undefined courses which synthesized a variety of trends. One of the most interest ing experimentalists is O. Effendi, who has moved toward abstraction (Fig. 3), and also has a fine talent for line drawing (see his sketches on pages 98, 107-109). But few would dispute that Indonesia’s most accomplished contemporary painter is Aflandi (born 1910) whose powerful brush work and highly developed sense of color have led European critics to compare him favorably with such expressionists as Kokoschka.

Technical recession in Europe?

The German economy is now only 0.2 per cent larger than before the pandemic — a slower recovery than in the rest of the currency union — with the eurozone economy about 2.3 per cent above its pre-pandemic level based on growth figures for the third quarter.

Source: FT

Booming Philippines

The Philippines has recorded its strongest economic growth in more than 40 years, defying a global slowdown and rising inflation after lifting all pandemic restrictions at the end of last year. The south-east Asian economy grew at an annual rate of 7.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022, beating economist expectations of about 6.5 per cent growth, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data. Full-year gross domestic product increased by 7.6 per cent, its strongest growth since 1976.

Source: FT

Indonesian painting legend Affandi liked his hot rods

Affandi's Mitsubishi Galant at his museum

Last week EM were really hot

For subscribers only

Kartika

A portrait of charismatic and outspoken Indonesian modern artist Kartika Affandi, her remarkable life, and her powerful and controversial paintings and sculpture.

Margaret Thatcher’s reading of Fukuyama’s End of History Essay