J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra

Born 1984 in Semarang, Indonesia
Lives and works in Bandung, Indonesia

Emerging from various explorations linked to conceptions of the philosophical “Self”, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra dissects the seemingly monumental appeal of spacing identities. Informed mostly by the artists’ biographical interests, the charcoal works present momentary petitions for recognition by constantly emphasizing on re-assessing the Self in relation to what constitutes identity, the moral and the social in contemporary Indonesia. The Self simultaneously becomes a subject and object of observation and study for the artist, a liminal philosophical category, developed through investigations into artifactual constituents of memory and placed conjunctive to idealizations of artistic labour and its accompanying predicaments.
His drawings could be said to be intense reflections on identity and self, and play with the notions of memory and history. They certainly do work with the notion of the self, and the way his drawings become photos in the act of disappearing are very profound and moving, and seem to be hitting on something quite revolutionary. His work is all this and more, where form meets function to investigate what it means to be a human being right here in this place, producing a pronounced melancholy that almost borders on sweetness.
“I live in the third world country, Indonesia. As an artist, I always ask “who am I?” in the context of myself, religion, social and even in the art world constellation. The question and discussion therein, becoming the base of my works. The question that I believe will always become a discussion matter now and forever, “who am I?” Art matters not only can be found out of ourself. I believe every matter, not only in art, begin from ourself. That is why I draw an image of me in most of my works. Face representing most from any other part of our body in a process of identification. All things that describe by myself, that’s self-portrait is.” Pramuhendra

CV
J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra is quickly making a name for himself as a rising contemporary artist in Indonesia. In 2007 he graduated from Bandung Institute of Technology, majoring in Printmaking. He has participated in a number of group exhibitions presenting emerging Indonesian artists over the past couple of years and has caught audience attention with his dramatic self-portraits in charcoal on canvas.

J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra staged several exhibitions such as "Art Jog" at the Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2013), "Religion of Science" at the Galerie Perrotin, Hong Kong (2012), "No Direction Home" at the Galeri Nasional, Jakarta (2010) and "MenasArt" at the Royal Pavillon, Beirut, Lebanon (2010).
In 2009 he held the solo exhibition "Spacing Identities" at NUS Museum, Singapore and "Spacing Identities: Part Two", Mapping Asia, CIGE, Beijing, China (2009). In 2006 Pramuhendra received the Drawing Award by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.
He also participated in Art Fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Hong Kong (2013), Hong Kong International Art Fair, Hong Kong (2010), Asyaaf Korean Contemporary Art Fair, Korea (2009) and the 12th International Biennale Print and Drawing Exhibition, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan (2006).

J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra, Superstar Christ, 2013, Fiber-resin, cast, paint, shoe laces, 30 x 09,5 x 9 cm | 11.81 x 3.74 x 3.54 in # PRAM0016

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

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.

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)