Orangutan 2024 Ongky

ARTIST: Anat Cossen
ORANGUTAN: Ongky
TITLE: Ancient wisdom
MEDIUM: Archival inkjet
SIZE: 200mm x 260mm
FRAMED: yes

Project Orang-utan – The Exhibition is a Fundraising Art Exhibition featuring artist from Australia Wide with the intention to raise awareness of the plight of the Orang-utans and their habitat and to raise much needed funding for the International Animal Rescue Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in Ketapang Indonesian Borneo. This exhibition will showcase a collection of artworks created by Australian Artists. Each artist has been paired with one of the Orang-utans currently in the Centre's care, creating a body of work that expresses the unique personalities and idiosyncrasies of these beautiful primates reflected through the artists eye. Deforestation and exploitation of our beautiful orangutans population has led to these peaceful animals losing their homes and being on the verge of extinction.

MONEY RAISED FROM THE SALE OF THESE ARTWORKS WILL BE DONATED TO THE ORANGUTANS AT INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUES CENTRE IN KETAPANG.

The brainchild of this idea Jessica Warwick is passionate about the conservation and preservation of our adorable redheaded primates the Orang-utans. Currently volunteering at numerous Orangutan Organizations across Borneo including the International Animal Rescue 2024 (IAR) Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in West Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo, personally witnessing the rehabilitation of each of the orang-utans at the Centre is an active participant in fundraising and raising awareness of the plight of endangered orang-utans and their rainforest habitat.

For more information please visit www.projectorangutantheexhibition.com

Anat Cossen

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Israel in 1971 and completed my photography diploma in Jerusalem. After moving to Melbourne (Australia) in 1998, I found work as a commercial portrait photographer. With the arrival of my kids, I felt the need to find new inspiration and expand my skills. This led me to developing an art practice, creating images in an endeavour to express my deeply- held thoughts and emotions. At the same time, and as a complement to my creative work, I began teaching photography.
Currently, I am teaching photography at Photography Studies College and continuing to express myself through my photographic images.
Education
2013 Masters of Fine Art, RMIT University, Melbourne 1997 Diploma of Photography, Hadassah College, Jerusalem, Israel
Courses and certificates
2001 Interior Design – Council of Adult Education 2003 Pencil Sketching - Caulfield School of Art 2007 Indesign – Swinburne University short course 2008Ilustrator – Swinburne University short course
Exhibitions
2013 “Postcard show”; Linden Gallery, St Kilda 2012 “sub 1000” Group show; Edmund Pearce Gallery, Melbourne 2012 “Interpretation of Intimacy”; Open space Gallery, Melbourne 2012 “Transition” solo exhibition; Edmund Pearce Gallery, Melbourne 2002 “St Kilda life” Group exhibition, St-Kilda 2002 “ with one brush” Group exhibition, Caulfield Park 2001 “Jewish Yarns” Group exhibition, Jewish Museum, St-Kilda 1997 “Best of Photography” Students work - national exhibition; Tel-Hai museum of photography, Israel.
Artist Talks
2013 "Contesting Identity in Photography", International Photo Biennale, Bendigo

ARTIST'S REASON FOR PARTICIPATING

My participation in this project comes from my belief that as a residence of this planet we all have the obligation to give something back.

www.anatcossen.com
Ongky

There were two new arrivals at IAR's orangutan rescue Centre in Ketapang in June 2010. The team is caring for a baby of 3-4 months old that has been called Paolo and a two year old named Ongky.
The rescue of Ongky resulted in the arrest of three traders by members of the Forestry Quick Respond Police Unit (SPORC) of West Kalimantan.
"The arrest started with our agent in the field, who had been investigating the traders for a month. It was also with the help of West Kalimantan Regional Police Office," David Muhammad, head of West Kalimantan SPORC, said in Pontianak.

The police seized the orangutan, a cage and a handbag with holes in the sides. The SPORC are now searching for the network of traders and collectors of the endangered species. "Both of them are used to doing this. Now, we are carrying out an intensive investigation," David said.
Orangutan traders face five years in prison or a fine of Rp 100 million.
Karmele Llano Sanchez, Veterinary Director of International Animal Rescue in Indonesia, said: "Thanks to a combined effort by the local authorities and local NGOs, the lives of these two orangutans have been saved. We are doing all we can, given our current limited space and resources, to prepare all the animals in our care for life back in the wild. It is a sad reflection on the plight of the orangutan in West Kalimantan that our centre is full and we are in desperate need of a larger facility that can cater for up to 100 orangutans at a time."

Vet Nigel Hicks from OVAID talks fondly of ongky .”Ongky is always up to no good and it is usually rude.”

A year ago Ongky and Puyol were moved from the baby school play area to the transit play area. The reason for this was that the two boys were becoming rougher in their play and it was clear that they needed more space and challenges. In the back transit area we have many platforms, larger areas and more trees than in the baby school area. After an initial health check with good results the two were moved. The first period they clung to each other and to the baby sitter more than they played, obviously a bit overwhelmed by the new surroundings and playmates. After some time though they both became braver and now they are well adapted and seemingly enjoying all the new space and playmates.

Now all the orangutans have moved in to the new Centre with much space to play in the forest Ongky and his friends are in their element now.