Milik Nggendong Lali (Owning Cradling Forgetting) presents new works from Agung Kurniawan. In this exhibition, Agung explores his identity as a Javanese in Indonesia. He was born to a family with a dense atmosphere of priyayi or nobility, if defined according to its current understanding, priyayi will more or less mean: a secular middle class family from the Javanese ethnic group, whom has a tendency to lean towards westernization. Through customs and practices in his childhood days, Agung came to understand more about Javanese culture. In his own words, he feels that one of the Javanese’s nature is to “hide your feelings, use your body language as your main language: act symbolically”. He also highlighted the difficulty of defining the Javanese people, as there is a multiplicity of personalities, depending on whom they are dealing with.

Here is an excerpt from Agung Kurniawan’s curatorial note: “My work here represents this complex weaves of personality. The Javanese cultural and political identity never stays fixed on a singular pivot. As always when perceived according to different point of views, some may have their sight drawn to the exotic "sophistication" of the Javanese culture, while minor groups may see it with a more critical eye. Javanese culture is akin to a blunt kris slipped onto the back of a Javanese person, entrenched in layer after layer of personality due to the complexity of his own culture. Such layers are what make the Javanese personality unique. Referring to the title above, which more or less means: cultural identity is always something entrusted for safekeeping (as it is an object), but oftentimes this object is taken to be one's own as one grew familiarized and accustomed to it. “

About the artist:

Agung Kurniawan was born in Jember (Indonesia), lives and works in Yogyakarta. He studies archaeology at the Gadjah Mada University before he decided to attend the Graphic Arts Department of the Institut Seni Indonesia in 1991. The artist, curator and writer runs the independent art space Kedai Kebun Forum in Yogyakarta since 1997, a space for exhibitions, performances, and discussions including a restaurant. Together with his wife Yustina W. Neni, he publishes the tri-monthly visual arts newsletter Halte. Agung Kurniawan belongs to the first generation of Indonesian artists who entered the international art scene, resulting in exhibitions at many international events, galleries, and museums.

Image: © Agung Kurniawan, Richard Koh Fine Art