The exhibition titled “Ten Portraits”(after Stein, after Warhol, after 150 Days) by Krishnamurti Suparka
The journey of 30 minutes from the city center to Bandung highland where the solo exhibition, “Ten Portraits” (after Stein, after Warhol, after 150 days) by Krishnamurti Suparka at Orbital Dago, Bandung, takes place. The upper Dago area is known for its many interesting tourist spots. With the view of Bandung city, cool air, and still pristine environment, the journey is winding but captivating.
Upon arrival at the venue, at the parking lot visitors are greeted with unique wooden designs combined with plants at the entrance of Orbital café. The café provides complete facilities such as a hotel, pool, café, meeting rooms, and workshops with a contemporary modern design, infused with minimalist futuristic elements and advanced technology. The use of materials such as glass, metal, and concrete combined with natural elements and creative lighting creates a unique atmosphere.
Descending two floors down, visitors arrive at the entrance to the exhibition space. On the right side, there is a large artwork explaining the artist’s design process and history. The process of creating this artwork is divided into three stages: dialogue between the collaborators with 10 unique individuals who will be the portrait models, direct portrait-making on the exhibition room walls, and the publication of print media complementing this project at the end of exhibition day.
Ten portraits (after Stein, after Warhol, after 150 days)
“Ten Portraits” (after Stein, after Warhol, after 150 days) is the result of a wall drawing process based on interviews with 10 unique collaborators, resulting in unique works by Krishnamurti Suparka. This event was held on March 7th, 2023 until 20 March 2023 for sitting session for the first stage, second stage March 7th until March 24th for drawing session. And for the final stage will takes time March 25th, 2023 for Reception and discussion. Don’t miss out on seeing 10 works of art by international artists from Indonesia from this exhibition.
The title “Ten Portraits” has been used by Gertrude Stein in “Dix Portraits” (1930) and Andy Warhol in “Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century” (1980). The use of the word “after” behind Stein and Warhol’s names is a form of homage in the Western Art tradition. However, in the context of “Ten Portraits…after 150 Days,” it might have a literal meaning of “ten portraits, after the passing of 150 days.” This associates the portraits with time, potentially carrying specific significance for some people. The portraits in the exhibition, as described, are illustrated in the form of minuscule handwriting, drawing parallels with the way Dix Portraits by Stein presents key figures in prose.
About The Artist
Krishnamurti Suparka known as Nishkra, he has a rich educational background in art.
1994 Advanced certificate in Design (Graphic Design), Swinburne University, Prahran, VIC
1998 Associate Diploma of Art (Visual Art), RMIT, Melbourne
2001 Bachelor of Fine Art (Drawing), the Victorian College of the Arts
2003 Graduated Diploma of Education, The University of Melbourne
2009 BFA (Honours) Victorian college of the Arts – The University Of Melbourne
2011 MFA (Research) Victorian college of the Arts – The University Of Melbourne
He has held several solo exhibitions, including “Stalactite” at Spare Room Melbourne in 1997, “They Came From the North” at Place Gallery, Melbourne in 2013, and “Postscript” at btw_space, Bandung in 2005.
Krishna has been active in various fields of art, including music, fashion, and arts. And has played a significant role in the art scene in Bandung. As an art lecturer, he also contributes to the development of a new generation of artists.
His works are reflections on contemporary society. Of the consequences of history, technology, and material progress upon nature and the human, of information abundance and its effects on knowledge acquisition in an increasingly memefied/post-truth spectacle-reality, and on the workings of language and linguistic codes in a connected world; all rendered in the vocabularies of abstraction and conceptualism
Krishnamurti Suparka’s distinctive artworks adorn the exhibition room walls, showcasing his unique creation process. Visitors can witness how interviews with collaborators and the making process are interpreted by Nishkra into spectacular artworks. When the writer visited the location, Nhiskra had just completed six artworks (March 15th, 2023).
There is an interesting story from this Q&A session: one of the collaborators came for the interview session but instead brought an electric guitar along with its amplifier. On this occasion, the collaborator, Gustaff H. Iskandar, conducted a question and answer session while playing his guitar. Each unique individual is free to express themselves, and the artist interpreted the collaborator in the form of a unique artwork. The time needed by Krishnamurti Suparka varies greatly. In the closing event on March 25th, 2023, he will unveil the final touch of the 10 artworks.
Orbital Dago
Upon arrival at the exhibition venue, at the entrance of Orbital café, unique wooden designs combined with interesting plants are already visible. Orbital café has complete hotel facilities with its pool, café, meeting rooms, and workshops. With a contemporary modern design, infused with minimalist futuristic elements and advanced technology, the use of materials such as glass, metal, and concrete combined with natural elements and creative lighting creates a unique atmosphere.
The choice of an attractive exhibition venue is another advantage of this event.
Orbital Dago is an Indonesian contemporary art gallery and the latest addition to the growing art scene in Bandung. Aiming to broaden the current discourse surrounding contemporary art in Indonesia, Orbital Dago will present the works of Indonesian and international artists who have rarely or have never been presented in Indonesia before.
So this is Bandung, Parisj Van Java, capital of West Java. In this city, many Indonesian creatives are born who often become trendsetters because of their unique style. Not only Krishnamurti Suparka, there are many other artists from Bandung who have gone international.
