Témoin hybride

Hybrid witness

17 January 2012

Mr Eko Nugroho has 2 solo shows happening around the world right now, one in Australia (Art Gallery of South Australia North Terrace) and one @ the Parisian Museum of Modern art (not beaubourg no, the other one). By the end of next month Eko will have another 2 exhibitions, one in Singapore and a last one in Surabaya (Indonesia, his homeland). A quick note to illustrate the increasing popularity of this socially-engaged Yogyakartan.

Global Identity - Eko Nugroho 2011
Global Identity - Eko Nugroho 2011

“Témoin hybride” which opened last Friday is more an installation than an exhibition situated in the lower ground floor of the MAM. Bringing Eko’s urban art into the museum has been quite a challenge.

Eko usually tries to mix a large array of subjects and cultural differences, he works and lives in  Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java but he’s very familiarized with Paris and occidental tastes. All means are good for creating these mixes and the continuous conversation between the art world, his intimate thoughts and daily politics… from painting to embroidery, video animations and sculpture. This is what you’ll find if you visit the dedicated room @ MAM.

work from Eko Nugroho - Témoin hybride
work from Eko Nugroho - Témoin hybride

Eko clearly has a urban background (despite his fine arts education at the Indonesian Art Institute) which has led him to work with many local communities and people from his neighborhood. He’s been editing & publishing a cartoon magazine called  Daging Tumbuh over the past 10 years and runs a clothing company with a big local – social component in a country such as Indonesia where economic stability is somehow unusual.

Eko Nugroho - Peace, Love & Vendetta, 2011
Eko Nugroho - Peace, Love & Vendetta, 2011

Last year was amazingly prolific for Eko, he did some works for French luxury brand Louis Vuitton and won the annual sponsorship from the SAM Arts Projects foundation. He was invited to work and live at the Raffet Villa in Paris for 5 months (he created this dedicated blog to document his passage) and what we get to see today @ MAM is the result of such works. You have until March 21 to force yourself into his surreal & humorous space, it’s free of course ;). More info on the MAM page.

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