Agus Suwage

Born 1959 in Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia
Lives and works in Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Agus Suwage is one of Indonesia’s most important contemporary artists. He was born 1959 in Purworejo, Java, Indonesia. He lives and works currently in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Suwage is actively engaged in both local and international scenes since the late 1980s. Suwage studied Graphic Design at the Institute of Technology in Bandung, Indonesia from 1979-1986. He has participated in over 150 museum and gallery exhibitions around the world.
His art practice - which includes drawing, painting, sculpture and installation - has been exhibited in major art events across Indonesia and abroad. For example at the Singapore Bienniale, Singapore (2006) and had a major retrospective at the Yogyakarta Art Museum, Indonesia (2009). Whilst his oeuvre predominantly circles around the phenomenon of “death”, he is also engaged with an obsession of portraiture. Since the mid 90’s his own projection onto canvas has become the focal point of his artistic concern. At the most intimate level, his works might just be a medium for him to face and overcome his constant personal fear towards it. He thereby often uses popular symbols and iconography to invite an engagement with the beholder. Charcoal figures of skulls and skeletons dominate the works in his exhibitions, using images related to death as a chance to gaze at life face to face. The use of such imagery is Suwage’s way of confronting the act of living to its final point, when all action, belief and faith meet their inevitable end.
Indonesian artist and curator Aminudin Sireger reflects: “Suwage teaches us about self-criticism.” His work does not judge the situations he perceives. Rather, he invites the viewer to follow his contemplations by arranging various problems in ironic, even incoherent relationships, enshrouded by dark visualizations and a bitter sense of humor. Suwage belongs to a larger community of artists who are actively shaping Indonesia’s dynamic developing contemporary art scene. “It could be said that the work was among the last in recent years to incite public reaction in Indonesia and to trigger a debate among people outside the art community”, writes Farah Wardani (Art writer, curator & director of Indonesian Visual Art Archive). Agus Suwage is clearly one of the few Indonesian contemporary artists with a cosmopolitan character.

CV
Agus Suwage studied Graphic Design at the Institute of Technology in Bandung, Indonesia from 1979-1986. He has participated in over 150 museum and gallery exhibitions around the world.
Selected Solo Exhibitions are: "CYCLE No. 2" and "The End Is Just Beginning Is the End" at the Tyler Rollins Fine Art, New York, USA (2013/2011) and "Pause/Re-Play" at the Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia (2005).
Suwage participated in the Biennale Jogja IX, Yogykarta, Indonesia (2007), the Singapore Bienniale, Singapore (2006), the 6th Bienniale of Havana, Cuba (1997), the Asia Pacific Bienniale (1996) and became a retrospective at the Yogyakarta Art Museum, Indonesia (2009), which was accompanied by a comprehensive monograph of his work "Still Crazy After All These Years", published in May 2010.


"ASIA: LOOKING SOUTH"
10 September - 27 October 2011
Group exhibition at ARNDT Berlin
CATALOGUE AVAILABLE

Agus Suwage, Embarkation, 2015, oil and acrylic on canvas, 150 × 200 cm, SUWA0172 Agus Suwage, Embarkation, 2015, oil and acrylic on canvas, 150 × 200 cm, SUWA0172
Aug 28, 2013

CURRENT EXHIBITION : AGUS SUWAGE | CYCLE No. 3

Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Cycle No. 3 | Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, June - August 2013 Agus Suwage, Waiting for Godot, 2013, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 250 x 200 cm | 98.43 x 78.74 in # SUWA0016 Agus Suwage, Waiting for Godot, 2013, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 250 x 200 cm | 98.43 x 78.74 in # SUWA0016 Agus Suwage, Self Portrait with Two Dogs, 2013, Oil and acrylic on canvas , 150 x 200 cm | 59.06 x 78.74 in Agus Suwage, Self Portrait with Two Dogs, 2013, Oil and acrylic on canvas , 150 x 200 cm | 59.06 x 78.74 in Agus Suwage, Super Flower #3, 2013 , Copper, graphite, parfum dispenser , 118 x 120 x 55 cm | 46.46 x 47.24 x 21.65 in Agus Suwage, Super Flower #3, 2013 , Copper, graphite, parfum dispenser , 118 x 120 x 55 cm | 46.46 x 47.24 x 21.65 in Agus Suwage, Social Mirrors #2, 2013, Trumpet, copper, wood and car audio systems , 118 x 24 x 70 cm | 46.46 x 9.45 x 27.56 in Agus Suwage, Social Mirrors #2, 2013, Trumpet, copper, wood and car audio systems , 118 x 24 x 70 cm | 46.46 x 9.45 x 27.56 in Agus Suwage, Monumen Yang Menjaga Hankamnas #2, 2013, Graphite on resin, gold-plated brass, cloth, steel, beer bottle, vynil, led lights, acrrylic box + fluorescence lights, 380 x Ø 200 cm Agus Suwage, Monumen Yang Menjaga Hankamnas #2, 2013, Graphite on resin, gold-plated brass, cloth, steel, beer bottle, vynil, led lights, acrrylic box + fluorescence lights, 380 x Ø 200 cm Agus Suwage, Mindset, 2012, Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper, 155 x 118 cm | 61.02 x 46.46 in Agus Suwage, Mindset, 2012, Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper, 155 x 118 cm | 61.02 x 46.46 in Agus Suwage, Malaikat yang Menjaga Hankamnas #4, 2012,  Acrylic, ink, gold leafs, graphite on paper , 155 x 118 cm | 61.02 x 46.46 in Agus Suwage, Malaikat yang Menjaga Hankamnas #4, 2012, Acrylic, ink, gold leafs, graphite on paper , 155 x 118 cm | 61.02 x 46.46 in Agus Suwage, Lifestyle, Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper , 118 x 155 cm | 46.46 x 61.02 in Agus Suwage, Lifestyle, Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper , 118 x 155 cm | 46.46 x 61.02 in Agus Suwage, Icarus #2, 2012 , Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper , 118 x 155 cm | 46.46 x 61.02 in Agus Suwage, Icarus #2, 2012 , Acrylic, ink, graphite on paper , 118 x 155 cm | 46.46 x 61.02 in Agus Suwage, Icarus #1, 2013, Graphite on cardboard and gold leafs , 174 x 240 x 32 cm | 68.5 x 94.49 x 12.6 in Agus Suwage, Icarus #1, 2013, Graphite on cardboard and gold leafs , 174 x 240 x 32 cm | 68.5 x 94.49 x 12.6 in Agus Suwage, Ave Maryam #3, 2013, Oil, graphite on galvanized steel , 179 x 63 x 4 cm | 70.47 x 24.8 x 1.57 in Agus Suwage, Ave Maryam #3, 2013, Oil, graphite on galvanized steel , 179 x 63 x 4 cm | 70.47 x 24.8 x 1.57 in

AGUS SUWAGE | CYCLE No. 3
ARNDT BERLIN

Curated by Enin Supriyanto

08 June to 31 August 2013
Tue – Sat, 11 am – 6 pm

Opening: 08 June, 4 – 7 pm

ARNDT Berlin proudly presents the first solo exhibition Cycle No. 3 of the internationally recognized Indonesian artist Agus Suwage in Berlin.
Cycle No. 3 is the final chapter of a suite of international exhibitions. Two preceding presentations of the CYCLE series took place in Jakarta (Nadi Gallery, 2012) and New York (Tyler Rollins Fine Art, 2013).
As the title suggests, Suwage’s exhibition explores three aspects of the idea of the cycle. First, the cycle of life, a theme that figures prominently throughout both his early and recent artistic work. Charcoal figures of skulls and skeletons dominate the works in this exhibition, using images related to death as a chance to gaze at life face to face. The use of such imagery is Suwage’s way of confronting the act of living to its final point, when all action, belief and faith meet their inevitable end.
More formally, the cycle theme expresses itself through the notion of rotation, a visual motif the artist has developed and redeveloped throughout his career. Finally, the cycle refers to the act of recycling central to Suwage’s working methodology, and his predilection for incorporating found materials and used objects in his work.
Suwage’s work presents personal reflections on myriad social questions, while avoiding hasty analysis or proposing solutions. His work does not judge the situations he perceives. Rather, he invites the viewer to follow his contemplations by arranging various problems in ironic, even incoherent relationships, enshrouded by dark visualizations and a bitter sense of humor.
Agus Suwage (b. 1959 in Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia; lives and works in Yogyakarta) is one of Indonesia’s most important contemporary artists. Actively engaged in both local and international scenes since the late 1980s, Suwage’s prolific and expansive art practice - which includes drawing, painting, sculpture and installation - has been exhibited in major art events across Indonesia and abroad.
The artist and the curator Enin Supriyanto will be present at the opening on Saturday, June 8th, from 4pm to 7pm. An accompanying catalogue will be available.
 

Exhibitions

"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 | Click on image to see more "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 | Click on image to see more
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013
"Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013 "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" - Exhibition View at ARNDT Berlin, April - June 2013

SIP! INDONESIAN ART TODAY / SENI RUPA INDONESIA KINI

The past three generations of Indonesian Contemporary Art

Group show by ARNDT Berlin

27 April to 01 June 2013
Tue – Sat, 11am – 6pm

Please click here to watch a video of the "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" show in Berlin.

The exhibition "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" and the accompanying publication results from ARNDT’s recent focus on Southeast Asian art and the new Asian and Pacific art markets. Over the past four years Matthias Arndt has worked in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. His research, the past shows of Southeast Asian artists and the opening of ARNDT Singapore, the Asian showroom and office of ARNDT, makes Matthias Arndt one of the leading experts for contemporary Indonesian and Southeast Asian Art in Germany and Europe.

The exhibition "Sip! Indonesian Art Today", curated by Enin Supriyanto, is the 10th show dedicated to Southeast Asian art ARNDT is hosting in Singapore, Australia, Great Britain and Berlin. The 150 page publication "Sip! Indonesian Art Today" edited by Matthias Arndt and published at DISTANZ Verlag (ISBN 978-3-95476-007-7) is available in all bookstores.

The public talk "The last three decades of artistic production in Indonesia: 25 years of Cemeti Art House and the status of curating. with Enin Supriyanto (curator) and Mella Jaarsma (artist), moderated by Katerina Valdivia Bruch (curator / critic) will take place at ARNDT Berlin on 27 April 2013 at 4 pm.


The exhibition presents over 40 works from all artistic mediums, painting, sculpture, installation, photography and film, by 16 contemporary artists from Indonesia. They belong to a larger community of artists who are actively shaping Indonesia’s dynamic developing contemporary art scene. If we consider their age and career development, the artists here represent 3 generations of contemporary art practice dating back from the late 1970s: beginning first with FX Harsono, one of the proponents of the Indonesian New Art Movement (Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru) founded in 1975 followed by a group of artists who emerged at a time when Indonesia was undergoing major socio-political transformations in its strive towards democracy during the late 1990s (Agung Kurniawan, Agus Suwage, Mella Jaarsma), the post-Reformasi (Reformation) generation of artists (Christine Ay Tjoe, Entang Wiharso, Rudi Mantofani, Handiwirman Saputra, Eko Nugroho, Syagini Ratna Wulan and Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo), and finally a generation of artists who have been active in the past decade, sophisticated operators of their own careers in a more or less stable and democratic Indonesia (Wedhar Riyadi, J. Ariadithya Pramuhendra, Wiyoga Muhardanto, Indieguerillas and Tromarama).

The generational differences do not only represent differing socio-political experiences in connection with the development of Indonesia’s society in the past three decades but also illustrates the differing socio-political contexts of the artists observations and artistic approaches that have changed and altered over the years.

The word “Sip” in Bahasa Indonesia may be a simple and modest one but it is full of meaning. While the origin of this word is unknown, it is a word that is used by nearly everyone every day. “Sip” is the briefest way to state that something – whether an art work, an event, an experience or anything – is good, of good quality, super or outstanding even. Like this word, and like the process of our ongoing global culture, we do not question the origin of an idea, but we consider how this idea can continue to grow and contribute to the interaction and civilization of the world. In a way, we can say that ‘Sip’ has no such thing as exotic cultural background, neither stereotypical cultural baggage. Whatever the case, the meaning is clear: good, great, outstanding.

FX Harsono | Mella Jaarsma | Agung Kurniawan | Agus Suwage
Wedhar Riyadi | Christine Ay Tjoe | Eko Nugroho | Entang Wiharso
Handiwirman Saputra | Arin Dwihartanto Sunaryo | Syagini Ratna Wulan | Rudi Mantofani
J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra | Wiyoga Muhardanto | Indieguerrilas | Tromarama

For more information and images, please contact info@arndtberlin.com or +49 30 206 13870.

Please click here to download the press release as PDF file (English)

Please click here to download the press release as PDF file (German)
 

AGUS SUWAGE | CYCLE No. 3
ARNDT BERLIN

08 June to 31 August 2013
Tue – Sat, 11am – 6pm

Opening: 08 June, 4 - 7pm

Parallel to the national presentation of Indonesia at the 55th  Venice Biennale and following the survey show „Sip! Indonesian Art Today“, ARNDT Berlin proudly presents the first solo exhibition Cycle No. 3 of the internationally recognized Indonesian artist Agus Suwage.

Cycle No. 3 is the final part of an exhibition showing a series of Agus Suwage’s works entitled CYCLE. The two preceding parts have been exhibited in Jakarta (#1, Nadi Gallery, 17-30 Apr 2012) and New York (#2, Tyler Rollins Fine Art, 28 Feb-13 Apr 2013).
The exhibition title and the works presented here relate to three aspects of a cycle: The circle of life as a theme. Life and death has been a major underlying theme addressed in Suwage’s earlier work and continues to figure strongly in his recent works. The second aspect of cycle relates to the notion of rotation: the visual motifs that the artist has worked with in the past and still redevelops. Finally, the idea of cycle or rather recycle expressed in the artist’s predilection to incorporate found materials or used objects in his work.
The series of works in CYCLE asserted indeed from Agus Suwage’s main modus of working continously: to deliver various personal reflections towards myriad social situations surrounding him. He is not analyzing these to hastily give an opinion or present a final solution. He is not judging what he perceived or discussed. Suwage invites us to follow his contemplation by arraying various problems at once in a seemingly ironic, even incoherent relationship. All he delivers in a mere dark visualization is shrouded by a bitter sense of humor.
Agus Suwage (b. 1959 in Purworejo, Central Java, Indonesia; lives and works in Yogyakarta) is one of the most important Indonesian contemporary artists. He has been actively engaged in local and international art scenes since the late 1980’s. His works have been shown in many major art events in Indonesia and abroad. He is prolific and expansive in his artistic practice, making drawings, paintings, sculpture, installations, using various kinds of medium and materials.


The artist and the curator Enin Supriyanto will be present at the opening on Saturday, June 8th, from 4pm to 7pm. An accompanying catalogue will be available.

Please click here to download an online version of the catalogue.

For more information and images, please contact info@arndtberlin.com or +49 30 206 13870.