Equator Art Projects presents Indonesian Painting IV: You Look The Same As Us But You Don’t Speak The Same Language – Indonesian & Filipino Painters, a group show featuring works by eight artists from Indonesian and the Philippines. The artists are: Alfredo Esquillo Jr., Mark Justiniani, Joy Mallari, Arturo Sanchez Jr. (Philippines), Indieguerillas, Uji 'Hahan' Handoko Eko Saputro, Srihadi Soedarsono and Entang Wiharso (Indonesia). This is the fourth exhibition of a series that examines the current state of contemporary Indonesian painting.

Indonesia and the Philippines form two of the largest artistic communities in Southeast Asia. Separated geographically and also by the lack of a common language and hugely diverging cultural practices, they are seemingly different on the surface. However, there is a strong tradition of painting in both countries, who were exposed to European schools and methods of painting through colonisation. We ask: is it possible for these painters from such diverse backgrounds to communicate across these boundaries? Is a national identity reflected? How do they react to innovation or tradition? Can there be similarities in their work?

-Equator Art Projects

Image: © Joy Mallari
Courtesy of the artist and Equator Art Projects