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