An honest critique about it can lead to a fruitful conversation that can incite change. Likewise, sociopolitical issues should not be treated as taboo. When asked about his works, Dono said, “Artists have a moral responsibility to add to the conversation, to make people aware of injustices.” The monkeys he might be referring to here can be the big pharmaceutical companies who are racing to find the vaccine for COVID-19 or the politicians who are in -charge of the vaccination roll-out. Image courtesy of Heri Dono.ĭono has also critiqued how the pandemic is handled through his work called Three Wise Monkey Find The Vaccine. The pawns here can either be any resources or the neo-colonial countries that are trapped in between the turmoil. As both of them push and pull their forces, they tend to deploy their pawns into their game. Looking outside the Indonesian vacuum, the two entities can represent the two dominant countries that control the global powers. The pawns can mean any of the soldiers that are deployed by both sides to protect themselves or the collateral damage they wish to sacrifice for them to execute their grand move. First, the two entities depict the two opposing forces in Indonesian politics. The painting can be interpreted in two ways. In more advanced cases, some players purposefully let their opponents defeat their pawn to advance their other pieces. Chess players, in the beginning, use their pawns to gauge the other player’s strategy or are sometimes used as a bait to execute a more complex and well-thought move. Each piece constitutes a certain move and by strategically placing them, a chess player may outsmart the other.įurther, the painting features pawns thatwhich are often sacrificed in the game. In literature, chess is often used as a metaphor for the execution of one’s plans. Ĭoming from its name itself, Playing Chess Pawns depicts two big similar entities playing chess. His artworks provide a glimpse of the social realities not just in Indonesia but the rest of the world. Growing up in a precarious time in Indonesia, he witnessed how authoritarianism engulfed his country and took multiple innocent lives. The seemingly innocent caricatures convey a deeper existential meaning. In this sense visual art communicates quicker than the news on newspapers or television, ” Dono added. “When I exhibit my work, the Indonesian public understands the irony very quickly. Looking closely, his thought-provoking paintings encourage the audience to think critically and to reflect onabout these associations. I like to put figures in the mouth as a reference to diplomacy, people (say) something with their mouth but not from the heart.” “I’m using many elements and patterns I’ve used before: the wheel, the fire, the shoes, and yes they all have a meaning: The wheel is the symbol of progress fire is a symbol of energy the shoe is a symbol of perhaps military or authority the hand is a symbol of work, but also a talisman and something to predict the future. In an interview, he confided some of the caricatures and their meanings ĭono incorporates repetitive imagery such as flying superheroes, volcanoes, a chair, a dragon, and so much more in his work to express different symbolisms. ” Dono told Naima Morelli in an interview with Trouble Magazine.įrom left to right: Fantasy by Heri Dono (left) and Indonesia Conspiracy by Heri Dono(right). “The beauty of shadow puppets is that you have visual art, theatre, handicraft, performance, music – all these different disciplines – working together. Most importantly, it presents a satirical comment about social or political happenings. It both utilizes visual stylistic elements and musical accompaniment by traditional instruments. Wayang Kulit is an Indonesian form of shadow puppetry that narrates the stories of kings and knights. On top of that, he keeps the tradition of wayang alive in his portraits. His works align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Likewise, the explosive nature of his canvases displays a wild, fun, and freestyle arrangement as if it was taken straight out of a comic panel. The striking bold colours that outline the silhouette juxtaposes the tan and beige undertones. At first, Dono’s paintings leave a playful impression with itheirts absurd and deformed characters. These occurencesis happening stresses the importance of speaking up about these issues in as many mediums as possible.īorn in 1960, Heri Dono is an Indonesian contemporary artist who uses his exhibitions and paintings as an avenue for socio-political comments. The United Nations has recorded around 70 million people who are fleeing from war, persecution and conflict in 2018. Political conflicts- recorded or not recorded- have shattered people’s lives and disproportionately affected those on the forefront.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |