Identifying Indonesia series: The Alphabet of Anonymous Region
wood, mirror, paint
30 cm x 22,5 cm x 3 cm (33 frame)
2014

The Indonesian maps in the ‘Identifying Indonesia’ series demonstrate a “geo- historical” approach. Placed in parallel with the term “geo-politic”, we can surmise that “geo-history” is an attempt to observe history through geography. I observe my country as the Nusantara archipelago (nusa-antara; the nation in-between), also historically known as Indos-nesos. In geography, Indos-nesos is used to identify the nations that occupy the islands between continental Asia and the Pacific Ocean (more than 350 ethnic groups in all), all of which do not necessarily share the same ancestry—with no certain identity and roots. Through this work, I attempt to challenge our understanding of the nation’s identity.

ADITYA NOVALI (l.1978, Solo)

Pendidikan arsitektur dan pascasarjana konseptual desain produk di Belanda, mematangkan perspektif Aditya Novali dalam menjajaki ragam kemungkinan seni visual. Minat Aditya Novali pada matematika dan fisika mempengaruhi banyak karyanya yang dibuat secara logis-sistematis. Tetapi, di balik kerapihan susunan objek yang cenderung geometris, samar-samar tercium pertanyaan dan renungan filosofisnya tentang identitas dan identifikasi; seseorang, sebuah bangsa, atau negara. Menurutnya, identitas tak bisa dilepaskan dari bayang-bayang dan latar belakang sejarah. Di sisi lain, ketika media sosial telah meleburkan batas-batas, masih relevankah mendefinisikan identitas? Pertanyaan tersebut menjadi dasar logika yang melandasi prosesnya berkarya, sekaligus mengajaknya mencari cara baru untuk mengungkapkan gagasannya.

2011 [Solo Exhibition] Indoscape: A Geo-History, Galeri Canna, Jakarta

2011 [Award & Exhibition] Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2010 Finalist Exhibition, Hong Kong

2011 [Award & Exhibition] BaCAA Finalist Exhibition, Lawangwangi Art Space, Bandung

2012 [Group Exhibition] Deep S.E.A:Contemporary Art from South East Asia, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan

2012 [Group Exhibition] Deviation—New Sculpture, Galeri Salihara, Jakarta

2012 [Group Exhibition] Of Human Scale and Beyond: experience and transcendence, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2013 [Solo Exhibition] Beyond the Walls, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan

2013 [Group Exhibition] Little Water, Dojima River Biennale, Osaka

2013 [Group Exhibition] Pressing, Centro Video Insight, Torino

2014 [Solo Exhibition] Painting Sense, Roh Projects, Jakarta

2014 [Residency & Exhibition] The Order, Makan Angin#2, Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta

2014 [Group Exhibition] Shout! Indonesian Contemporary Art, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea (MACRO), Rome

2014 [Group Exhibition] The Wall/Structure/Construction/ Border/Memory, Ark Galerie, Yogyakarta

2015 [Group Exhibition] After Image: Images of Conflict, Galleria Civica di Trento, Trento

2015 [Group Exhibition] Aku Diponegoro, National Gallery, Jakarta,

2016 [Group Exhibition] PLUGGED, Pearl Lam Galleries, Singapore

2016 [Award & Exhibition] Prudential Eye Awards 2016, Art Science Museum, Singapore

2016 [Group Exhibition] Constituent Concreteness, Mizuma Gallery, Gilman Barrack, Singapore

2016 [Solo Exhibition] Acrylic, Roh Projects, Jakarta

2016 [Residency & Exhibition] Imaginary Synonym, Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo, Japan