Curated by Sujud Dartanto
Opening performance by DJ Ari "MidiJunkie" Wulu
BIASA artspace, Bali, December 22nd, 2008 to January 17th, 2009
Indieguerillas take an epic approach in populating their artistic world with nuance and character. In ten paintings, three objects, and an animation video featuring music by Yogyakarta-based sound artist-DJ Ari “MidiJunkie” Wulu, they parody ancient folklore. Not only do they mine the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, Javanese myths and legends, they also adopt the cult legends of today. Alongside court-jesters Gareng and Petruk, don’t be surprised to meet an American rap-artist.
“While visualizing Limbuk, I don’t know why but Missy Elliot kept popping up in my mind. So I tailor-made a character to represent her, carrying a basket full of spray-paint cans.”
— Santi Ariestyowanti of IndieGuerrillas
Wayang shadow-puppetry of South East Asia may no longer be perceived as popular among the younger generation, but Santi & Miko—the husband & wife team of audio-visual and kinetic artists better known as Indieguerillas—beg to differ. While most shadow puppet performances use archaic forms of local tongues—often difficult to understand across ethnic or generation divides, Indieguerillas create updated versions. They aim to popularize wayang among youth with new visuals, back-stories and even names. The demon Buto Cakil, for instance, is reintroduced as the suave Chuckil.
Humor is the vehicle of delivering wisdom in traditional storytelling: it is the court-jesters providing comic relief who have the audacity and artistic license to critique the elite and speak of taboo issues.
“Fools’ lore is an intentional slip-of-the tongue appropriate for their tendency of exploring folk tales, subverted for different uses,” explains curator Sudjud Dartanto. “It emphasizes an intensity of fooling around and highlights surprise, symptomatic of creation. As much as they can, Indieguerillas are moving away from any stability of meaning.”
BIASA artspace is proud to present the first Indieguerillas solo exhibition.
