COSMIC ENERGY - API BALI

1. COSMIC ENERGY - API BALI Indonesia has a long history of the sculptural arts. Megalithic images are found in archeological sites in Sumatra, Java to Sulawesi. The 8-10th century sculptures and reliefs found in Java and Bali of Hindu-Buddhist origins reveal foreign influences. Indigenous tribes developed their own distinct tribal styles created as ancestor, deity and animal memorial sculptures. Up until the 1960’s Indonesian sculpture was mostly figurative. However, in the mid 1960’s Javanese sculptor Sidharta, made enormous impact with his abstract sculptures that were a radical departure from recognizable forms. They were characterized by free flowing forms and are said to have initiated a new phase of Indonesian art. Yet sculpture as an art form was not recognized within the art communities. Art exhibitions were segregated, painters only exhibited with painters and sculptors with the like. Art collectors and appreciators were slow to acknowledge the merits of sculpture. Sidharta played an instrumental role in creating a new understanding and awareness of sculpture and then it began to receive respect, and eventually demand for such collectable objects of fine art grew. The AsosiasiPematungIndonesia (Indonesian Association of Sculptors), API was founded by Sidharta in Yogyakarta in 2001. API is an open, non-commercial organization dedicated to raising the profile of sculpture in Indonesia and now has more than 120 members throughout the country. The Oracle Gallery in Ubud presents ‘Cosmic Energy’, the first group exhibition featuring members of API Bali, 1-30 August 2013. According to the Hindu philosophy the word Shakti translates as Cosmic Energy – the unseen energy that contains spirit and life. Western science’s Cosmology states cosmic energy is the left over radiation from the Big Bang, the explosion that created the universe, expanding infinitely into the universe. Cosmic energy is the universal creative life force, as well as the artist of API’s invisible muse. For these sculptors it is the source upon which all intuition and ideas manifest into 3 dimensional form. Participating API Bali members in the exhibition ‘Cosmic Energy’ include the Oracle Gallery’s director, Greek sculptor FilipposBourbo whose visionary works forged from crystal and wood draw on the sacred, celestial wisdom from ancient civilizations. Wayan Gawi carves life like figurative sculptures from single blocks of wood set in unusual and provocative poses. Drawing on his Balinese heritage Ketut Selamat’s sculptures reflect on cultural icons. From a well-known family of artists, Wayan Jana’s harmonic wooden idols represent the figurative in angelic and cosmic minimalism. Dutch born CarolaVooges’ installations feature wooden sculptures that are both surreal and organic in form. Are they pulsating aquatic organisms from inter galactic landscapes? Wayan Upadana is one of the raising stars of the Balinese art scene and his work is an insight into his culture and its complexities and brings to question issues of responsibility. Pande Wayan Mataram utilizes the natural grain and character of the wood to crave abstract as well as the realistic sculptures. API Bali president Antonius Kho’s new work ‘Dynamika’ is an amalgamation of icons that he has exploder throughout his artistic career. And Bambang Adi Pranomo, a multi disciplined sculptor creates imaginative works of conceptual and technical quality. API guest artists from Java exhibiting in ‘Cosmic Energy’ include Anusapati (President of API Indonesia), HediHeriyanto, Lenny RatnasariWeichert, KomrodenHaro and Syarizal Koto. Antonius Kho. 'Dinamika' , 40 x 35 x 20 cm, 2012, wood sculpture Bambang Adi Pramnomo 'Hair Style of Medusa' bronze, 2013 CarolaVooges, 'Bang' 2013, mixed media, Various Dimensions.

2. Wayan Jana, 'Bersemi' 2013, Jack Fruit Tree, 35x16x12cm Wayan Upadana, 'Couple in Paradise' 2011 FilipposBourbo. 'Book of Change - I Ching' 2012, 150x60x60cm, Onyx, wood, mother of pearl, crystal.