Tumbuh Rimpang
17 November – 17 Desember 2024
‘Tumbuh Rimpang’ is a group exhibition inspired by the spirit of cultivation, a diction that reflects the daily spirit in our society. Here, the idiom of planting is explored through various perspectives and alternative narratives. Interrelated subjects such as history, tradition, community culture, technology, ecology, and others present themselves as a rhizome that directly and indirectly expands the narrative beyond just our imagination of the activity of farming. Suppose this idiom is borrowed as a metaphor, in that case, the works of the artists we present in this exhibition are developed from the idea of planting in their imagination of nature. Not as a single narrative, but rather creeping, rooting in the field they discovered themself.
To examine the relationship between nature and humans, cultivation stands out as the most immediate connection we have in our daily lives. Planting activities have a profound impact on humans. Beyond providing food and economic commodities, farming also reflects the social dimensions surrounding it, including historical relationships, rituals, technology, culture, ecological contexts, and the modern phenomenon of society’s distancing from the field as the ‘center.’
Each artist is invited to explore different aspects of the narrative through the idiom ‘tandur.’ These include its philosophical and cultural significance, rituals and spirituality, its context within Nusantara or Globalism, and its relationship to ecology, technology, and history. We aim to create interconnected, non-linear narratives that mutually enrich one another.
A touch of nostalgia for a few decades ago — on Land Art or Earthworks, an art movement that developed in the late 1960s and 1970s. In this movement, land or landscape is used as the primary medium for art. Artists like Robert Smithson, Walter De Maria, and Richard Long transformed land, rocks, and other natural elements into monumental works of art. By transforming natural elements like rocks and earth into monumental works, Land Art challenged traditional gallery spaces and engaged with ecology and the environment.
In addition, nature-based art theory also links art with agricultural practices and traditional farming systems. The works in this group exhibition become a representation of a network of ideas that branch out from those works. Rhizomatic cultivation in contemporary art reflects the dissemination and decentralization of knowledge, expressed through artworks and the formation of meaning. Inspired by the concept of “rhizome”, expressed by Deleuze and Guattari, who believe that the process of making consists of non-linear but interconnected elements. The works thus stem from interest but evolve through numerous possibilities from material reasonings, shaped by material considerations, family experiences, and imaginations that challenge conventional values. In this context, the works are interconnected as a spread of a network of ideas, practices, and influences that are mutually linked. The artists are encouraged to develop in various directions without a single point or center as a theme, but rather a reflection of an idiom. This curatorial approach emphasizes the fluidity of idea development while fostering dialogue across disciplines, cultural contexts, and artistic practices, offering a space for reflection and public engagement.
The works of the artists participating in this exhibition consist of various statements rooted in the tradition of planting, from local wisdom that grows in daily life not only in Bali but also throughout the archipelago. The artists do not directly want to navigate the narrative of tomorrow but rather express everyday matters often overlooked in society. With various mediums, including installations, digital art, sculptures, and paintings, this exhibition highlights the complex relationship between tradition and modernity experienced by the artists, offering a vision of the future by reflecting on history and the past. The artists explore the symbiotic relationship between art, ecology, and humanity today. This exhibition examines how young artists revive both the near and the distant, reflecting the human contradiction of what is close amidst a de-centralized civilization.
Tumbuh Rimpang
Artists
Condro Priyoaji
Jemana Murti
Ipeh Nur
Kanoko Takaya
Kuncir Sathya Viku
Mar Kristoff
Pande Wardina
S. Urubingwaru
Wahyu Nugroho
Zuraisa
