Aris Prabawa

13 Little Keen St,
Lismore, NSW 2480.
Email: arismanyul@gmail.com or arispedas@yahoo.com
Ph: (h) 02  66227805, (m) +61411374089

Artist Statement

Art for me, is a way of expressing ideas and responding to what is happening in real life.

Inspiration comes from within my community, from where I live, work, learn and play. Creating art is a process of exploring and deepening my understanding of the many diverse ways in which people interact with the world.  These interactions are sometimes brutal and at other times beautiful.

I am also inspired by Indonesian political artists, the German Dada movement, Mexican muralists, and graphic artists from early 20th century Europe. I am further inspired by antiauthoritarian, DIY (do-it-yourself), and punk philosophies.

The cultural, environmental, social, and political systems within which I live provide endless avenues for exploration.  In Indonesia where I was born, I have seen sexism, violence, abuse of power, patriarchy, corruption, poverty and environmental destruction.  I also see in Indonesia a strong sense of family and community, strong cultural traditions and rituals and a fertile environmental landscape.  In Australia I see many rules, unemployment, selfish individualism, detention centers, racism toward indigenous people, violence, alcoholism and environmental devastation.  In Australia I have also been inspired by the level of respect and tolerance shown toward the diversity of cultural backgrounds, ideas, political and religious philosophies, as well as sexual orientation that coexist here in relative harmony.  The belief in equality between men and women has also been inspiring and above all the freedom to openly express ideas has been immensely liberating. 

I use a range of different techniques in my art works including oil and acrylic paints, ballpoint pen on paper and canvas, pencil, charcoal and pastels on paper, collage, stencil, etching, woodcut , linocut, wood-carving, resin and scrap metal.   

My work I hope, can contribute to the development of critical thought and debate, new ideas and new ways of relating to the world and to each other.

Artist Biography Statement

Aris Prabawa
Born in Solo, Java, Indonesia, 1974.

I come from Solo in Central Java, Indonesia.  Solo is home to the Sultan’s palace and is rich with local traditions, myths and Islamic religion.  I grew up in a tight, communal community of immediate and extended family built on sharing and helping one another.  The society within which we lived was controlled by a military dictatorship which was oppressive, violent, sexist and unjust.

In 1994 I moved to Yogyakarta, and in 1995 I began a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in print making at the Indonesian Institute of Art.  In 1998 I was involved in establishing the art collective Taring Padi (fang of the rice plant).  This collective was formed by artists and activists to explore and critique the world we live in.  We used art as a tool for social change and as a way to share and explore political ideas, communicate with others and build new and creative ways of living.

My work has been exhibited in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.  In 2004 I was awarded first place in the Lismore Living Regional Treasures Art Prize.
In 2007 I completed my Diploma of Fine Art, Lismore TAFE Australia

I am interested in social, political issues within the context of place. My process of making art involves much research into place, where people live and how they understand and survive the world around them. 
 
The process of making art allows me to explore and deepen my understanding of different cultures and different ways in which people survive and enjoy life in this world.

Education

1995-1998           

Bachelor of Fine Arts (Print Making), Indonesian Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta.

2004-2007          

Diploma of Fine Arts , Lismore TAFE

Work experience

2009                     

Street Poster Response Indonesian Election 2009 dengan Taring Padi, Yogyakarta

2008

Street Poster “ May Day” with Black Boots, Yogyakarta Collaboration “Kuda Troya” with Taring Padi, Yogyakarta Puppet work shop, Festival Mata Air, Salatiga, Indonesia

2007                      

Banner Collaboration, with Culture Kitchen, Taring Padi and Gembel, Australia

2006                      

Children’s Banner Workshop:  Pine St Creative Arts Centre, Sydney
May’s Lane Mural Project, St Peters, Sydney
Puppet Workshop, Gang Festival, Sydney

2005                      

Banner collaboration, WWF Fundraiser, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wayang (Shadow Puppet) Workshop, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Poster Collaboration:  Remembering the Atrocities of 1965,Yogyakarta-Jakarta, Indonesia

2004                      

Banner Workshop, Wyrallah Primary School, NSW
Woodcut workshop, Byron Bay Community Centre, NSW

2003                      

Banner workshop, Peaces Creek Primary School, NSW
Banner workshop, Goonengerry Primary School, NSW

 2002                      

Linocut workshop, South Australian University, SA
Puppet workshop, Silvermine, SA
Banner workshop, Tevan Tintenbar Primary School, NSW
Banner workshop, Indonesian Day, Byron Bay Primary School, NSW
Banner Workshop, Indonesian Day, Bangalo Primary School, NSW

2001                      

Woodcut workshop, National Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Poster Workshop with Factory Workers, Surabaya, Indonesia

2000                      

Public Art Banner Collaboration, Ciliwung, Jakarta, Indonesia
Banner Collaboration for Remembering Tragedy of May 1998, Jakarta, Indonesia
National Reconciliation Comic Workshop, Gampingan1, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1995-1999           

Designer, Megatruh Colours of Life, Yogyakarta

1994-1995           

Designer, Jaran Ethnic T-shirts, Yogyakarta                  
               

Group Exhibitions

 2008              

Lismore Café Exhibition,  Caddies Café, Lismore
The New Millennium. Lismore Regional Gallery. Lismore
“888” Exhibition. China Height Gallery, Sydney


 2007            

The Asian Australian Artists Association 10th Annual Member Exhibition         
Protect And Survive with Setu Legi, Blue Tongue, Lismore, NSW
Sisa, UTS Gallery, Sydney
Fresh, Serpentine Gallery, Lismore, NSW
Landscape Exhibition, Luva Café, Lismore
Indonesia Contemporary Arts Now. Nadi Gallery, Jakarta
Threshold of Tolerance (print making collaboration), School of Arts Gallery, ANU,  Canberra
Smart Arts Festival, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Sydney
If you see something say something, Gallery 4A and Mori Gallery, Sydney

 2006             

Southern Cross Art Festival, Southern cross school. Ballina, NSW
Serpentine Gallery Grand Opening , Lismore,NSW
Student association show. Space Gallery TAFE. Lismore, NSW
Art quake, Art Auction. Stone Gallery. Sydney.NSW                                             
Benefit- Art auction for Java earthquake, Goanna Bakery & Café Lismore,  NSW
Sedulur Gempa, Goethe Istitute Jakarta, Indonesia
Environmental Defenders, Winsome Hotel, Lismore, NSW
Podho-Podho, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Sydney

2005                      

International Bienale, Jakarta
Calonarang, Bilik Marsinah, Yogyakarta
Ayo Ngguyu, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta
Poros Pembebasan, Rahayu Art Spot, Yogyakarta
Expression of Love between Indonesia and Australia, Byron Bay Community Centre, NSW

2004                      

New Work from Java, Labour Club, Sydney

2003

The Big Show Off, Lismore, NSW

2002

Adelaide Festival of Art, Adelaide
Art Against the Machine, Silvermine, Adelaide
The Big Show Off 1, Byron Bay, NSW
Art Against the Machine, 24 Hours: Contemporary Art Gallery, Darwin
Taring Padi, Monash University, Melbourne
Berdua di 2002, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta

2001                      

Happening Art “Earth Day”, Yogyakarta
Gelar Budaya Kerakyatan, Gampingan 1, Yogyakarta

2000                      

Pink Project, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta
FKY XIII, Benteng Vrederburg, Yogyakarta

1999 

Pancaroba Indonesia, Pacific Bridge:Contemporary Asian Art Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Yogyakarta Biennale, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta

1998

Batas Kondisi, Kedai Kebun, Yogyakarta

1997

Group Show, Sanggar Suwung, Yogyakarta
Human Rights Day, Yogyakarta

1996

FKY  XI, Benteng Vrederburg, Yogyakarta
Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta
Dialog 2 Kota, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta

 Awards

2007                      

Cross Arts Festival (public choice winner) Ballina. NSW

2004                      

Living  Regional Treasure Art Prize (first prize) Lismore Regional Gallery, NSW
The Border Arts Prize (highly commended) Murwillumbah, NSW
TAFE  NSW Arts and Design Prize (semi finalist) Seymour Centre,                    
University of Sydney, NSW

2003     

TAFE Student Association Art Prize (highly commended)

Solo Exhibitions

2008                     

Between Industry And The Earth, Sika Gallery, Ubud, Bali
Dalam Bayangan Sang Leviathan, Langgeng Icon Gallery, Jakarta

2006                    

Industrial Dyspepsia, Mori Gallery. Sydney, NSW.
Peace But Not Surrender, Goanna Bakery & Café, Lismore, NSW.
Drawing Exhibition, Café Giulia, Sydney, NSW.

2005      

Mencari Damai, Via-Via Café, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2004      

About Feeling, Fire in the Belly, Lismore, NSW

1998      

Arah Berlingkung, Studio Bosan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Performance Art

1997          

Dialog with Aquarium, Gampingan, Yogyakarta

2001          

Earth Day,  Yogyakarta streets

2007           

Climate justice. Space Gallery, TAFE, Lismore, NSW

2008           

Penghapusan Sejarah Gelap, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta

Reproduced/ Published

2007                      

Indonesian Contemporary Art Now, SNP International, Singapore

2005                      

Le Banian, Published Indonesian-French Association:  Pasar Malam, Paris, France

2001                     

Ilustratrations in Keringat Mutiara, Putu Oka Sukanta, Lumbung Press, Yogyakarta

2000                      

Art Asia Pacific, Issue 28, 2000

In Art Documentary Film

2006 

Gang Ways, By Carli Leimbach and Bill Leimbach, Australia

2002

IndonesiaArt, Activism And Rock’N’ Roll, By The house of Red Monkey, Australia

Commisions

2000  

Indonesian National Reconsiliation Poster, ELSAM, Indonesia

1999

Timor Leste Public Poster, SAHE Institute, Timor Leste

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