IO, Jakarta – As an art institution, ROH Projects continuously supports art and facilitating artists to present works of art in ROH Projects. On, March 24, 2018 and 17 April 2018 ROH Projects held a solo exhibition displaying Anusapati’s work who is an artist born in Surakarta, Central Java. He graduated in ASRI Yogyakarta (1983) and the School of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, New York, USA (1990). Now he teaches at the Faculty of Fine Arts Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Through the exhibition, entitled ‘Plantscape’, visitors will be taken to Anusapati’s childhood memoryi about trees in the plantation area. Throughout his career, Anusapati has always busied himself with the wood and roots of trees.
“In the ROH Projects this time, we are pleased to present a solo exhibition of Anusapati, PLANTSCAPE. The trees were a source of curiosity, searching, and artistic practice,” write the description ROH Projects in a press release.
At the exhibition titled ‘Plantscape’, Anusapati together with curator Grace Simboh arranged the installation of sandalwood logs from India in the ceiling of the main exhibition hall. What is unique is the wooden rod was display without cutting the roots. Silver-colored leaves stocked underneath, as if falling. An installation that is attractive and pleasing to the eye.
“Memory is an inspiration, explanation, and knowledge,” said Anusapati to Grace, the curator, as quoted in the leaflet exhibition.
Anusapati is trying to tell the story of his childhood which was close to nature, namely a rubber plantation and a few other plants that grew close to home. Due to the are of the rubber plantation, Anusapati together with his childhood friends called it the end of the world.
“Watch out! Do not play on the outskirts of the end of the world,” as the phrase is recorded in Anusapati’s memory.
He has held several exhibitions outside the country, but has not even deliberately cut off a branch or leaf from a tree. It can be concluded that there are no live trees that should be deliberately ‘sacrificed’ for the creation of an artwork.
In addition to the installation of tree trunks and roots, some types of twigs, leaves, and fruit of other plants, which has been placed in a particular color, and displayed in a glass box in another room. Overall, the concept of a unique look and background story of each of the works on display gives the view that there are many sources of inspiration in the work, and last but not least the memories of the past.
There are four works displayed. In addition to the work of Plantscape (2018), there are other works, namely Series Kebon Rubber # 4 (2018), Shadow # 10 (2012), and As I Can Recall (2018).
“The works of Anusapati always brings a deep impression and is desolate,” said Grace Samboh in the introduction.
So it was in his three other works, the feeling of desolate was quite intense. In the artwork, As I Can Recall (2018), Anusapati presents parts of plants, such as fruit, leaves, stems, and branches in a glass frame, while in the two other artworks, namely Shadow # 10 (2012) and Series Kebon Karet # 4 (2018), Anusapati brings an arid nuance through charcoal on paper.
He has processed a lot of bamboo and wood (teak mainly) as a manifestation of his attitude in favor of nature besides the bronze, found objects, and installations. Sculptures depict objects in everyday life, such as the gong, boat, bun, that then finds a new shape and volume that is liberating.
His works are often exhibited not only in Indonesia, but also in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan. For example, a solo exhibition of MFA Thesis Exhibition, Pratt Institute, New York, United States (1990), “Reconstruction”, The Kitamoto Cultural Center Gallery, Saitama, Japan (1997), and “The Story of Tree”, the Gallery Mon Décor, Jakarta , (2008). (Aldo)