Asal-Usul – A Showcase of Indonesian Artists

Date:

Oct 7 – 26, 2024

10am – 7pm (Mon – Fri)

11am – 6pm (Sat)

Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

Venue:

50 Cuscaden Road, HPL House #01-01, Singapore 249724

Tel: + 65 6339 0678 Fax: + 65 6438 2080

www.ipreciation.com

In the month of October, iPRECIATION is showcasing “Asal-Usul,” which translates to “From Where It Begins” in Bahasa Indonesia. This showcase offers a rare glimpse into the early works of nine contemporary Indonesian artists: Nasirun (b.1965, Java, Indonesia), Budi Ubrux (b.1968, Yogyakarta, Indonesia), Yunizar (b.1971, Talawi, Indonesia), Edo Pop (b.1972, Palembang, Indonesia), Alfi Jumaldi (b.1973, Lintau, Indonesia), Gusmen Heriadi (b.1974, Pariaman, Indonesia), Riki Antoni (b.1977, Yogyakarta, Indonesia), Samsul Arifin (b.1979, Malang, Indonesia),and I Made Aswino Aji (b.1997, Silakarang, Indonesia).

About the Showcase:

Through these early works created between 2001 and 2009, we gain a window into their initial explorations that shaped their paths, capturing a period of raw discovery and reflecting the genesis of their remarkable artistic career today. Each work reflects the artist’s engagement and curiosity with the modern world, driven by personal experiences and a deep exploration of socio-political and cultural issues affecting their society. While all nine artists explore similar themes, they do so through a diverse array of styles and techniques. The meticulous care in detailing makes each work uniquely individual and original, such patient meticulousness is increasingly uncommon among contemporary artists.

For instance, the use of vivid headlines and images on newsprint, along with the intricate folds and twists of the newspapers that complement each character’s posture in Budi’s works showcases the painstaking effort he invests in his art. Riki’s work employs massive, animalistic characters as a central theme in his artworks, these quirky protagonists are swathed in a palette of vibrant colours, to establish a paradoxical stance on the country’s political and social climate. Samsul’s iconic Barbie Doll series stands as a unique and valuable commentary in his oeuvre and is particularly noteworthy due to its limited run of only six pieces, making each artwork extremely important and valuable to collectors. In this showcase, we will be showing three of these six works, each demonstrating Samsul’s meticulous approach to manipulating objects, color, space, and composition to critically examine the impact of imported cultures on local identity. Hence, the intricate and time-consuming nature of these creative practices across the showcased artists renders such works increasingly scarce and highlights their exceptional significance.

In addition, our showcase will feature works from three significant series that Alfi began in early 2005: Meditation, Postcards, and Sign series. These series are integral to his ongoing exploration into the search for the real self. The pieces we are showcasing represent the foundational stage of this discovery, illustrating the initial concepts and themes that Alfi later expanded upon. Through these works, visitors will gain insight into the early development of his search for the real self and the evolution of his vision.

Yunizar’s works, created in the early 2000s, stand out for their simplicity compared to his more recent creations. These early pieces, while seemingly straightforward, are essential to understanding his current works. The simplicity of his early visual elements expresses his aim to capture intuition and instinct. Recognizing these early pieces is crucial for appreciating how they laid the groundwork for his evolution as an artist.

There is something profoundly special about an artist’s early works. They hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, not only because of their rarity but also because they capture the artist’s purest state of mind—driven solely by passion and creativity, free from the constraints that may often develop later. During these formative stages, artists are exploring and creating without knowing exactly where their path will lead or how their work will be received; it is a genuine adventure. For the viewer, it’s a privilege to see such early creations on public display. The rarity of earlier works—many of which are typically found in private collections—adds an extraordinary dimension to this showcase, a chance to appreciate the beginnings of creative minds that would go on to shape their artistic journey.

About the Artists:

Nasirun (b.1965, Java, Indonesia)

Nasirun was born in 1965 in Cilacap, a port town on the south coast of Central Java Indonesia, and currently lives and works in Yogyakarta. A graduate of the Indonesia Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta, Jawa, Nasirun is fluent in painting, carving, sculpture, drawing, installation and more. conceptualisation in his creations often stems from the spiritual and cultural realms that resonate strongly with him. Infused with themes reflecting his deep belief in Muslim spirituality, he specialises in creating large-format paintings based on his extensive knowledge of Javanese wayang.

Budi Ubrux (b.1968, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Budi Ubrux was born in 1968, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. One of the most progressive and radical new artists to emerge from Indonesia, he is less a visionary than an acerbic social reactionary. Prior to winning the Philip Morris Indonesian Art Award in 2000, Budi was a billboard artist and painter based in Switzerland. His paintings are powerful satirical observations on social degeneration through the alarmingly haunting aesthetic of faceless figures mummified in newsprint. Attempting to locate “the ulcer of corruption” – as quoted from the artist himself – in the heavily politicized agenda of contemporary society, Budi explores the concept of a mediated reality through the role of newspapers.

Yunizar (b.1971, Talawi, Indonesia)

Born in 1971 in Talawi, West Sumatra, Indonesia. A member of the Jendela Art Group, Yunizar’s work embodies the beauty and purity of human creativity, emerging spontaneously from what appears as his unconscious mind. Intentionally uses simple subject matter, objects which surround his daily life, and a simple painting and sketching technique to focus almost entirely on creativity and inventiveness. The childlike quality of Yunizar ’s work belies a complex narrative, through the recurring themes on his canvas including stiff figures, mask-like portraits, mythical creatures and floating objects; which are intimately linked with a timeless dream world and a poetic and somewhat quiet presence. In these playful and beautifully balanced compositions, there is a spiritual searching of the mind, a journey in a quest for self and identity.

Edo Pop (b.1972, Palembang, Indonesia)

Edo Pop, or Eduard was born in 1972 in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. He was educated at SMSR Palembang (1989 – 1993) and later on at the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta (1995 – 2000). He has been involved with various artists’ organisations in Palembang and Yogyakarta since 1990, including the Sanggar Bidar Sriwjaya which he co-founded in 1998, and Rumah Seni Muara, Yogyakarta, which he co-founded in 2003. Edo Pop has had solo exhibitions in Copenhagen, Denmark, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia. He has also participated in group exhibitions in the USA, Canada and Singapore over the last twenty years.

Alfi Jumaldi (b.1973, Lintau, Indonesia)

Alfi Jumaldi was born in 1972 in Lintau, West Sumatra, Indonesia. After studying at the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta in 1999, he co-founded and became a member of Jendela Art Group, a prominent contemporary artist collective. In 2010, he co-founded the Artists Collective, Office: For Contemporary Art International in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Alfi was nominated for the 10th Indonesian Art Awards (2003, Finalist) and the 5th Indonesian Art Awards, The Best Painting Awards, Indonesian Institute of Art (ISI), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1998, Finalist). He currently lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Gusmen Heriadi (b.1974, Pariaman, Indonesia)

Gusmen Heriadi was born in 1974 in Pariaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Having graduated from the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta in 2005, he works as an illustrator at Tabloid Altternatif Pualiggoubat Mentawai in his hometown. Concurrently, Gusmen actively exhibited his work throughout the past two decades. He was the recipient of the Space and Image Award in Indonesia, which was exhibited at Ciputra World Marketing Gallery. Gusman was also a finalist of both the Philip Morris and Indofood Art Awards (2000 and 2002) and has been honoured with a Special Appreciation at the Jakarta Art Awards in 2006. Most of the works by Gusman are products of his dreams, his responses to life, and his philosophical views. In turn, these are the result of cultural development and family habits, as well as influences from the breadth of his artistic life and pursuits.

Riki Antoni (b.1977, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Riki Antoni was born in 1977 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. As an artist, he employs massive, animalistic characters as a central theme in his artworks and these quirky protagonists swathed in a palette of vibrant colours, to establish a paradoxical stance on the country’s political and social climate. Obtaining inspiration from the realm of the phantasmal, Riki has infused this mystifying theme with his fascination for the proverbial, enabling the artist to create wild new-fangled characters that ironically, possess an inherent shade of humanity that is aptly reflective of the nuances of urbanised, ‘civilised’ behaviour.

Samsul Arifin (b.1979, Malang, Indonesia)

Samsul Arifin was born in 1979, in Malang, Indonesia. He established himself as a multi-talented artist. In 2001, Arifin won both Indonesian Art Institute awards for the Best Watercolour Painting and Best Sketching Work. The artist often employs, with astute awareness, artistic signifiers in various combinations to construct meanings in his creations. In his series of Barbie Dolls paintings, he has invested much deep thought to effectively manipulate object, colour, space and composition in his works, criticizing the penetration of imported cultures.

I Made Aswino Aji (b.1997, Silakarang, Indonesia)

I Made Aswino Aji was born in 1977 in Silakarang, Gianyar, Bali to a family of wood carvers, sculptors and painters, for Aji, drawing and painting were part of daily life even before he started school. Aji attended the High School of Fine Arts in Denpasar, Bali (1993 – 1996) as well as the Indonesian Institute of Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta (1996 – 2006). Aji’s works reflect a distinctive point of view towards the phenomenon of modern life, depicting themes reflecting ostracisation and isolation. Since 2002, he has been the Director of the Ruang per Ruang Project. He became a member of the Playboys Collaboration Project in the following year. Aji has had two solo exhibitions in Yogyakarta and has participated in group exhibitions in Singapore, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Solo, Magelang, Malang and Bali since 1995.