Culmination | Calm In Nation, a Sawidji Collaboration. A multi-disciplinary art exhibition from 10th May to 29th June 2024. In partnership with Santrian Art Gallery. Featuring national and international artists and writers. Officiated by Ida Bagus Gede Sidharta Putra. Inaugurated by Popo Danes. Program and curation by Dian Dewi Sawidji Gallery.
Agus Kama Loedin. The Structure of Faith
Agus Kama Loedin is a contemporary mixed-media artist born in Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. He studied archaeology at Gajah Mada University Jogjakarta as well as in Leiden, Netherlands. At this time he resides alternatively in the Philippines and Indonesia.
“Culture and the people behind it have always been an amazing subject for my works. Whether it is the philosophy, the technique to produce it, or the material they use.” ~ AKL
Calm-nation and Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan
Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan, views calm as a condition that is worth always striving for. Samyak sanghrĕtya kalpanah, act and strive for a calm mind! So that misery or harm does not dare to approach, and people can achieve mahardikaan, namely a condition that is free from suffering. Like the sky that is free from clouds, kadi angganing akasa an Nirmala.
So what is peace achieved with? Of course, by concentrating your mind on one focus point and aligning your breath. For writers, words are the focal point. For carvers, the tip of the chisel is located. For painters at the tip of their brush. For dancers in their movements. For walkers on their feet.
That way, space and time disappear. There isn't any. People return to their origins of nothing, without just paran-paran. What could be calmer than that?
The EYE
This is the eye inside Culmination. The calm we experience in the opening performance. We then enter the room and the eye is in the centre, seeing everything. Everything that is occurring inside the room. “Do they feel culmination?” In essence the eye sees Truth’ ~ AKL
David Hopkins and Interactive Creativity
Step into a world of surreal beauty and artistic wonder with collage artist and designer David Hopkins. Renowned for his unique blend of imagination, technique, and creativity, Hopkins invites you to embark on a visual journey through his eclectic collection of collage artworks. Through a combination of found imagery, digital manipulation, and traditional techniques, Hopkins creates dynamic collage compositions that captivate the senses and provoke thought. As a digital collage artist, David Hopkins continues to push the boundaries of the medium, exploring new techniques and pushing the limits of what is possible.
He draws inspiration from his urban musical environment, incorporating elements of graffiti, vintage advertisements, and urban decay into his compositions. David’s compositions often feature real figures, architectural elements, and abstract motifs, inviting viewers to decipher hidden narratives and explore the juxtaposition of disparate elements.
'Whether its music or art, its all about having fun'~ David Hopkins
In the lead-up to the Culmination Exhibition in Santrian Gallery Bali in May 2024 David Hopkins visited Sawidji Studio and Gallery. During his first visit to Bali, we enjoyed getting to know him through his creative process directly. With many instances where he shares his energy and experience during his collaboration for Culmination.
Thoughts on AI
“You should not have to use a generator to create things. The creative process is for those who understand and still have human intelligence to appreciate the process. Whilst it is useful in some circumstances for some people, just because you can use a machine to create something immediately does not give you the right to put this online for sale as art.”~ David Hopkins
In what way do you see art playing a role in communities and the challenges that face them in the future?
“I’d like to see in communities more interactive art for children. Sparking their enthusiasm to get involved with it. They are so immersed in digital technology that the only way to get them to spend less time on it would be through interactive art. Whether it is interactive digital art or not. They can create with it”.~David Hopkins
The flash of ideas that came spontaniously and when an idea comes, it’s sort like a big broad brushstroke that says ‘something like this’. What follows are a lot of scribbles, dashes, dots, lines and curves, and trying to understand the lines, and motives on the process of making it with precise composition, layers and colours.
Biophilia
A hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature: a desire or tendency to commune with nature.
Biophilia is the term coined by the Harvard naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson to describe what he saw as humanity's "innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes," and to be drawn toward nature, to feel an affinity for it, a love, a craving. ~ Natalie Angier
Pheel, a Definition. Handle or touch to examine, test, or explore some quality. She felt the fabric to see if it was wool. b. : to perceive by a physical sensation coming from discrete end organs (as of the skin or muscles)
Sava Istanbul Larry
Sava is a painter, musician and street artist (graffiti) born in Papua on March 31st 1988 in a gold mining environment. He studied at YPJ Freeport International School and moved to Jakarta where he continued his education at SMAN 3 Setiabudi South Jakarta and finished his bachelor’s degree in public relations and mass communication at The London School of Public Relations Jakarta.
This is a collaboration between Street Artist Sava Istanbul and Digital Collage artist David Hopkins. Sava's approach is raw and intuitive painting from a street art background. Collaborating with David Hopkins through his complex and beautifully layered, crisp digital collages.
Dibal Ranuh and the Power of the Smile
‘hopefully from a small smile in one person and that there is many people.. then there is a happy nation.
Artistic director and activist Dibal Ranuh is a multi-disciplinary visual artist whose work consistently and powerfully champions the voice of Nusantara. In its purest form his art reflects a creative idealism that heralds the transformative power of the arts.
The Power of a Smile
"A smile is happiness. Dibal Says.. some smiles do not show happiness.. but most smiles keep the message of a smile.. a stranger you meet .. with a smile i if it starts with a smile..it is certain to create a goodness. A small gesture that is so small, but it gives birth to goodness, kindness. This is why I carry this as a principle.. Do good for many people.. even with a smile.. There is a shift in the spirit.. there is a person who doesnt want to smile.. that is actually a heavy burden.. doing good can come in smaller actions.. we can have a lot of friends.. we can be good with many people. That is the meaning of the smile for me.." ~ Dibal Ranuh
The smile project is ongoing. It has been working and in development for a very long time, since 2015. When I saw a smile on a fisherman, during a time when Tambora had a devastating natural disaster.. yet he smiled. The smile is a victory. I am looking for my happiness by asking for the smiles of others. This project began at Tambora Island and I collected 1200 smiles.
I came to realise that not every human being has a smile. Many rejected it. Many refused to give a smile. Some smiles are stolen.. some smiles are coerced.. some smiles are negotiated. The face in all creatures.. and even inanimate objects also have a smile.. objects have spirit and also have smile.
The concept of a smile, as articulated by Dibal, underscores its inherent connection to happiness. While it is acknowledged that certain smiles may not overtly convey joy, the predominant function of a smile is often associated with positivity. Particularly, when encountered by a stranger, a smile serves as a catalyst for fostering goodwill and benevolence.
Viewed through an economic lens, a smile emerges as a cost-effective means of eliciting positive outcomes, representing a principle that advocates for altruistic actions, even in their simplest forms. The potency of a smile lies in its capacity to alleviate burdens and forge connections among individuals.
Concurrently, it is imperative to recognize the authenticity of a smile, juxtaposed against the performative nature of masks. Unveiled, a smile embodies unity and serves as a testament to collective happiness.
Eric Buvelot
Eric Buvelot is a senior reporter and writer residing in Bali since 1995. He started his career in France at the daily Libération. Writing hundreds of articles about Bali and Indonesia, in French and English for publications such as La Gazette de Bali, as chief editor for 13 years and for leading English-speaking media platforms such as The Jakarta Post, Indonesia Expat, Now Bali and Le Banian.
The Good, The Bad and Our Genes! Roll the Dice Personality Test
We all know that our personality traits are partly defined by a roll of the genetics’ dice and shaped furthermore by education, experiences and environment. Between nature and nurture, this is how we become who we are. What if we could roll the dice again? This is what Tjandra Hutama and myself present to the public with our installation of Action Art/Interactive Art for Culmination at Santrian Gallery - Sanur. ~ Eric Buvelot
But first, what makes our character? What define our personality traits? And what are they in the first place? We’ve all heard of the importance of genetics into this and the part that is played by chance. We also know that human characters are constructed slowly by an unstable balance between what is provided by nature and what is nurtured. So what is our own personal combination? Is it true that part of it is the result of chance? Let’s look at it and have some fun with that roll of the dice!
While genetics play a significant role, chance factors also come into play due to random combinations. Remember! The specific combination of genes inherited from parents and ancestors is random! So, it induces unpredictable outcomes.
For the time of our collective Sawidji exhibition at Santrian Gallery, roll the dice again to know the unique combination of your personality! Between good, and bad, and your genes, who is the real YOU today?
The Selfie Effect
“Selfie series, is an effort to highlight the phenomenon in society about how social media influences their behavior. This happens outside of their realisation. From this behaviour, mental health may becomes disturbed,. Of course technology is very important but it can also "kill" If we don't have awareness of the effects it has on us it. Through those reflections, thats how this Selfie Series came to be.” ~Made Kaek
The changes in social behaviours and the increasing evidence of mental health-related incidents amongst our youth are what inspired Made Kaek's Selfie Series. A reminder to us through these portraits is to be aware of our behaviour and perhaps reassess how much we allow it to shape our perceptions of self and our identity.
ManButur Suantara
ManButur Suantara is a Fine Art Photographer and a key pillar of Sawidji Gallery. A practising professional, artist and mentor in the industry for over a decade his contributions to the many genres of photography are vast. His love for Nature does not only inspire his art but also his wildlife documentation initiatives. His work and dedication are a consistent way of giving back to Mother Nature.
"If you’re talking about pure photography… you just have to let time do its job, pure photography is simply about taking a picture of a moment. You take the photograph of the moment because time just flies, immediately after capture, that moment is gone." ~ManButur Suantara
WATER. Water is the element that most people feel calm. Hearing the dripping the sound, seeing the water. Especially in Bali water holds a very specific significance. In relation to purification, in relation to life and sustainability in the agricultural traditions of the island. In essence, water is essential to us.
BIRDS. Some birds are migratory, like the shorebirds. Just to live they have to be near water. Water is the primary aspect of survival for living things. Migratory birds travel vast distances in search of warmer climates and good water conditions. We as human beings are not so different. We depend on water.
'Culmination' is a peak of focused energy. Water brings calm however, water can move and be destructive. Tsunamis, hurricanes and storms are moving water. The flight of birds show us that living creatures need to move in harmony with this energy. They need it for their collective survival. We can learn from the flight of birds and their respect for water.
Putu Bonuz
A multi disciplinary contemporary artist well known for his powerful abstract style. Putu Bonuz Sudiana is a dynamic and progressive artist with a creative charisma that attracts a wide range of audiences. His contributions have been in painting, installation, music, performance art and poetry.
I enter my process not having any idea. Only an empty canvas. From this empty canvas, I create and face new challenges each time. Process with different techniques each time. Such as composition, line, texture and balance. These visual principles carry a very deep meaning that can also be translated into our lives. In life, we face every day like this. Sometimes everything happens outside of our planning. If we can face it like we do this empty canvas, with an intuitive surrender we can find the same harmony as we find this beauty in the abstract painting. That is the clarity of abstraction. ~ Putu Bonuz
Tjandra Hutama
A visual designer, photographer and influencer in Bali’s active photography community. Tjandra Hutama’s contributions to photography since 2010 have earned him the trust to lead Bali Photographers Association for two terms. From 2016 – 2022 and is presently a committee member of FPSI (Federasi Perkumpulan Senifoto Indonesia).
Tjandra Hutama and Pandoras Hope
Pandora's Box, a Definition. The god Prometheus stole fire from heaven to give to the human race, which originally consisted only of men. To punish humanity, the other gods created the first woman, the beautiful Pandora. As a gift, Zeus gave her a box, which she was told never to open. However, as soon as he was out of sight she took off the lid, and out swarmed all the troubles of the world, never to be recaptured. Only Hope was left in the box, stuck under the lid. Anything that looks ordinary but may produce unpredictable harmful results can thus be called a Pandora's box.
Our tendencies as individuals with creative impulses and intentions always present unlimited imaginative possibilities. The different perceptions we have in response to everyday life make most things appear reasonable. We see what we want to see.
We can justify what we want to believe. Throughout history, there has always been a longing for other relationships beyond human existence. We seek to find out things that we cannot understand.'
There are a large number of relics and artefacts, also in literature that suggest the intervention of beings other than humans. Including perhaps that of a spiritual or mystical nature. Maybe this means that we have been building a collective consciousness from ancient times (myths) to the present day (modern science).
All the inevitable changes, we have to face it and we must dare to explore and question. Human beings are thinkers, we are creative inventors. This is why we name inanimate objects talk to our animals and attach ourselves emotionally to television show characters, like the rise of the Superheroes.
The ancient Greek myth in Hesiod's Works and Days mentions the opening of Pandora's box due to human curiosity about something that was taboo to be revealed or seen. Pandora has unleashed dark terror, greed and various calamities, tarnishing the perfection of life that once existed. However, even in the worst conditions, there is still hope, which is always present in this life. New hope for perfection and happiness in life, new hope for a world without hatred and conflict, new hope for calm and peace. In the end, it is not the answer that is certain that is most important, but responding to and controlling the hope itself.
Wayan Sujana Suklu
Sujana Suklu is known as a progressive multi-disciplinary contemporary artist in Bali. With a vision that reflects a universal philosophy. Sujana Suklus’ contributions encompass various fields within fine arts, both academic and social. Suklus’ academic research explores ways to bring art methodologies into communities, preserving local wisdom whilst expanding existing skill sets.
"Myistical Witness" 2024, Bringing empathetic and humanist values to life through artifacts. The historical value of Beruq has a diverse spectrum related to the context of its era.
Mystical Witness is fortunate to have found its partner at Griya Santrian Art Gallery. The site remains deeply rooted in the local culture, with all materials sourced locally. The elaboration has evolved to embrace a more modern and mystical local aesthetic, seeking to capture the essence of this site, Batu Padas, coral, and the unique local shapes. Among these, the Bruq and the frog stand out, each representing elements intrinsic to the work.
As for the frog, its significance lies in my village life. The frog symbolizes rain and the resilience inherent in nature. Its vocalizations and lifestyle serve as inspiration for humans to reconnect with nature. The frog's enduring mystique parallels that of the human body, with its intricate channels akin to those found in the bruq.
Similarly, the coconut, though unassuming, possesses distinct characteristics, from its smooth outer skin to the leaf-like texture inside, culminating in an artistic fusion. While the frog beckons rain, the bruq retains water, sustaining farmers and completing the natural cycle. Reflecting on these natural processes imbues us with both spiritual and logical insights, fostering a renewed appreciation for nature.
Wayan Suastama is a painter born in Lalanglinggah, Tabanan, Bali, 1972. He studied fine arts at ISI Denpasar. Since 1995 he has been diligent in displaying his works in joint and solo exhibitions, both at home and abroad, such as the Bali Megarupa (2019) exhibition. In 2000, his work entered the final of the Philip Morris Art Award.
“If you want to change something on the outside, begin by changing yourself” ~ Wayan Suastama
An aesthetic experience. When entering the forest through a thicket of branches, the subconscious image is carried away by something deep in life. Sustainable forests, like the womb of life, must be consecrated as a reservoir for water in the upper reaches that flows downstream and into the Subak system. Forests are so important for the continuity of the agricultural system and life that they should be preserved and sacred. Visually, the work, the leaves are expressed to resemble space in an effort to explore the perspective of a sense of depth, thereby leading thoughts into a tunnel of imaginative contemplation. If you want to change something, start changing your own thoughts before changing anything further.
Twigs like heads are like upstream where the forest is a source and storage of water. And there are tigers, scary wild animals, so we will be afraid to enter the forest and afraid of destroying the preservation of the forest. Now, if this sustainability cannot be separated from natural phenomena, such as drought and others, this must be responded to wisely and always with value, such as when a volcano erupts, the initial impact is devastating, but after that the land becomes fertile, the same goes for other existences and cycles. in vain in this universe.
The visual work of the expression of a tree with roots like a strong elephant can be interpreted as a solid foundation and foundation so that it will grow strongly. Like this work, elephants are like roots that support other creatures in peace with each other and together so that all trials and exposures can be overcome. Likewise, plants and forests in particular are protected and preserved, the continuity of life will always be maintained for the next generation.
This work cannot be separated from the existence of sustainable forests. It's quite simple like a farmer's philosophy.(planting, maintaining, harvesting) starting from here, planting and preserving the forest, the ecosystem of living creatures will grow and be in harmony. Animals don't lack food, even trees as water storage will always flow to agriculture so that agricultural sustainability is maintained. abundance. This is how various aspects will always be in harmony if friendship with the universe is always maintained.
This work reminds of the experience of being in a cool forest and being exposed to the breeze, bringing an atmosphere of peace. The branches that greet each other sway in the wind, humming the melody of the music of the universe..Beautiful rendition of the angelic figure of the Goddess of Fertility and other creatures who are happy. That is, if the forest is sustainable, all the entire universe will certainly be happy and in harmony..
Akshara (Sanskrit: अक्षर, romanized: akṣara, lit. 'imperishable, indestructible, fixed, immutable') is a term used in the traditional grammar of the Sanskrit language and in the Vedanta school of Indian philosophy.
The term is derived from अ, a- "not" and क्षर्, kṣar- "melt away, perish". The uniting aspect of its use is the mystical view of language, or shabda, in Hindu tradition, and especially the notion of the syllable as a kind of immutable (or "atomic") substance of both language and truth, most prominently, the mystical syllable Aum, which is given the name of ekākṣara (i.e. eka-akṣara), which can be translated as both "the sole imperishable thing" and as "a single syllable".
‘Various gifts can be given to show love and affection. Sawidji, through digital media, expresses this spirit of kinship and gratitude to the authors, in the form of Aksara. A form that can not only be read and sounded, but also cherished in memories and feelings. A legacy that transcends space, time and civilization.’ ~ Mas Ruscitadewi
The two Lontar Scripts that comprises The Gift of Aksara were inscribed by Darma Putra and Komang Ari Pebriyani.
Aksara in Sanskrit holds within it the meaning of ‘that which can not be destroyed’. Culmination, is an offering of voices gifting their creations to the world with the sole aim of nurturing a peaceful and positive impact. Our writers offered words from deep parts of themselves. Words generously given to us. We offer our appreciation in The Gift of Aksara. May their words of hope and wisdom be eternal. Together in Culmination. A peaceful offering whose message can not be destroyed.~ Dian Dewi Reich
A Special Thank You
To Ida Bagus Gede Sidharta Putra of Santrian Art Gallery for his support of this exhibition by providing his beautiful space for us all to share. To Popo Danes for the insightful opening of our event and his positive words. From all of us at Sawidji, we would like to say our heartfelt thanks. To everyone involved. To our friends far and near who have generously given their time and their work toward Culmination.