Ivan (Life imitates art):
Colonisation has played a key role in how we see the world around us, as well as the way we see ourselves. The idea of art, as it was introduced to us, was instructive and formative in our way of experiencing the world.
Colonisation has played a key role in how we see the world around us, as well as the way we see ourselves. The idea of art, as it was introduced to us, was instructive and formative in our way of experiencing the world.
Johannes (Art imitates life):
The earliest works of artistic merit were inspired by and drawn from observations of the natural world around us. Even the mythical and fantastical are rooted in the realities of lived experiences.
The earliest works of artistic merit were inspired by and drawn from observations of the natural world around us. Even the mythical and fantastical are rooted in the realities of lived experiences.
Text by: John Tung (Curator) | Editor: Yeo Boon Ping
The Book of Hours of Asmaradana, 2014
Eddy Susanto hybridises two 13th-century literary works: the Book of Hours, a type of personal prayer book originating from Europe; and Smaradahana, a 12th-century Javanese poem. In doing so, the artist highlights the universality of cultural literacy during that time period, despite the differences between these two cultures. Moreover, through the inclusion of an MP3 player within the installation, the artist also argues for the importance of recognising these medieval texts as ancient forms of technology that shaped the cultural identities of today.
Artist:
Eddy Susanto
Courtesy of:
The Gouws Collection
Acrylic on canvas, wood, MP3 player
180 x 291cm
Eddy Susanto
Courtesy of:
The Gouws Collection
Acrylic on canvas, wood, MP3 player
180 x 291cm