Kiwari , Narratives of Identity and Impermanence
Group Exhibition Tumurun Museum, Solo, Indonesia

Artists: Melati SURYODARMO 麦拉蒂·苏若道默 | 

Narratives of Identity and Impermanence

May 21 – November 21, 2023



“Kiwari” is an Indonesian word rooted in the Sundanese language, meaning “present time” or “contemporary.” It is used to reflect contemporary situations encountered by artists from various backgrounds, identities, experiences, and life spans. The transient and subjective nature of the timeline makes the term “kiwari” a useful tool for interpreting the works of sixteen artists in this exhibition. A series of selected works from the Museum Tumurun collection represent the complexity of ideas and concepts of the artists, particularly narratives about temporality, power relations, materiality, spirituality, identity, and memory.

Through an exploration of identity and impermanence, the artists provoke us to reflect on our lives, memories, and significant events that shape our selves. Each artist brings a unique perspective and style to these narratives, resulting in different expressive languages. The exploration of materiality is manifested in various media such as painting, sculpture, installation, performance art, and audiovisual works. The discourse on power relations is conveyed through skillful manipulations of metaphoric signs and symbols that are close to social life, the body, and various objects or signs encountered in daily life. These works are manifestations of individual and collective experiences in navigating the complex relationships between political situations, physical nature, and spirituality, and the ways in which they intersect and influence each other.

“Kiwari: Narratives of Identity and Impermanence” is a celebration of the richness and diversity of art practices in Indonesia, demonstrating that art can inspire and challenge us to think more deeply about the self, the power relations that shape it, and to reflect on the cycles and rhythms of life. This exhibition is a gateway to immerse oneself in the stories and thoughts of sixteen artists, allowing their voices to resonate with our own experiences and self-reflections, inviting us to appreciate more deeply the interconnections between memory, identity, and the power of art to capture the essence of the human soul in navigating the drama of life.

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