For example, in his painting entitled “Pressure and Pleasure,” the Purworejo-born artist describes his work during the period around the May 1998 riots. During this chaotic time, Suwage was forced to move from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. At that time, many parts of Jakarta were still smouldering. But at the same time entertainment and karaoke venues reopened.
Suwage realized that at that time violence was seen as commonplace. This duality of pressure and pleasure is blended in the form of a tent that contains a seductive semi-erotic depiction of an adult film star painted in the style of a film banner.
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Suwage, who graduated with a graphic design degree from ITB also tends to use themes and materials from recycled goods. For example, “Monumen yang Menjaga Hankamnas“ (Monuments that Protect National Defense and Security), an art installation made of over a thousand empty beer bottles arranged to resemble a glowing monument.