Mulyana

Born 1984
Hometown Bandung, Indonesia
Lives and works Yogyakarta, Indonesia

About the artist
Jogja-based Mulyana was educated as an art teacher and learned knitting and crocheting at the famous book shop collective Tobucil in Bandung. Mulyana experiences the act of knitting or crocheting as a form of meditation and prayer. His pieces begin their lives like small organisms, the modules slowly blooming with quiet contemplation into vividly colored clusters of queer forms that seem to hold together tightly, as if a pulling force was binding them relentlessly with invisible strength. These islands were aptly titled, Sister island, Coral island and such, ironically prompting us to recall coral life on the seabed, instead of man-dominant or artificially reclaimed islands.

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Mulyana

Born 1984
Hometown Bandung, Indonesia
Lives and works Yogyakarta, Indonesia

About the artist
Jogja-based Mulyana was educated as an art teacher and learned knitting and crocheting at the famous book shop collective Tobucil in Bandung. Mulyana experiences the act of knitting or crocheting as a form of meditation and prayer. His pieces begin their lives like small organisms, the modules slowly blooming with quiet contemplation into vividly colored clusters of queer forms that seem to hold together tightly, as if a pulling force was binding them relentlessly with invisible strength. These islands were aptly titled, Sister island, Coral island and such, ironically prompting us to recall coral life on the seabed, instead of man-dominant or artificially reclaimed islands. As you draw closer to peer into the multitude of tiny eyes poking out of the coral-like forms, cute as they may seem, their intimate presence sucks you into their microscopic world of tactility and a parallel life – a channel to transcendence?

In 2008, Mulyana created his alter-ego, the Mogus (Monster), alongside the Gurita (octopus) and Sigarantang (Mulyana’s clan name). The Mogus is made of knitted pompoms from unused bulky yarn, adapted from images of marine life with its beautiful diversity and mystery.“In God’s eyes, our being in this life is to eventually go to a beautiful place,” says Mulyana for whom art making is a privileged way of “showing gratitude to our Creator who gives him a sound mind and a healthy body to be part of life on earth”. Often, Mulyana speaks of his work with vigorous reference to spirituality and a sense of a higher being guiding his act of creation.

Mulyana

Media:

Watch the porters after dark video

Education:
2005, Jurusan Pendidikan Seni Rupa, UPI, Bandung.
2004-2005, Jurusan Menejemen Lembaga Keuangan Islam, ISID Gontor, Ponorogo.

Solo Exhibitions:
2020, The Messenger, Art Porters, Singapore
2020, Diver(sea)ty, ESPLANADE- Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
2019, Anima Mundi, Central Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand
2019, A Man, A Monster, and The Sea, The Goods Shed (FORM), Perth, Australia 2018, Multiple Hands, Selasar Sunaryo, Bandung
2018, Coral Atlas, Art Central Hong Kong, HK
2012, Mogus World I, Galeri Gerilya, Bandung.
2012, Mogus World II, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta.
2009, Time after Time, Niagara Sarang Setan, Bandung.

Commission Works:
2019, Window Display HERMES, Seoul.
2019, Window Display HERMES, Singapore.
2018, Sea Remembers, ART|JOG|11, Yogyakarta.
2017, 3 Sister Islands, Facebook Artists in Residence, Jakarta.

Residencies:
2019, Project 11, Melbourne, Australia 2014, Nafas Residency, Yogyakarta

Group Exhibitions:
2023, Life is Beautiful, Art Porters Gallery, Singapore
2020, Equilibrium: At the Boundary Between Human and Environment, Asia Culture Center, Gwangju, South Korea
2020, Resilience, ART|JOG|12, Yogyakarta
2020, Jumping The Shadow, Sapar Contemporary, New York
2019, Indonesian Contemporary Art and Design 2019: Faktor X, Jakarta
2019, We Are Robot, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Melbourne, Australia
2019, A Man, A Monster, and The Sea, Orange County Museum of Art, California, USA 2018, Enlightment, ART|JOG|11, Yogyakarta
2017, Age of Hope Biennale Jogja XIV, Yogyakarta
2017, Changing Prespective, ART|JOG|10, Yogyakarta.
2016, Imaginarium: Over The Ocean Under The Sea, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore. 2016, Forest, Artporters, Artstage Singapore, Singapore.
2015, Mapping Melbourne, Multicultural Arts Victoria, Australia.
2015, Let Me Know You More, Chandan Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2015, Infinity In Flux, ART|JOG|8, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta.
2014, Bandung New Emergence, Selasar Sunaryo Artspace, Bandung.
2014, 4 Artists of Nafas Residensi, Yogyakarta; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2013, Bandung Contemporary: Disposition, Lawangwangi Creative Space, Bandung.
2012, Indonesian Contemporary Fiber Art #1: Mapping, Art1 Gallery, Jakarta.
2012, Start Light, Galeri Gerilya, Bandung.
2012, Design/Art: Renegotiating Boundaries, Lawangwangi Creative Space, Bandung. 2012, Reposisi, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta.
2011, Contemporary Archeology Chapter Two, SIGIarts, Jakarta.
2010, Alter Media, Djamoe #4, UPI Bandung.
2010, Leasure All Mine, Play Dead #2, Galeri Padi, Bandung.
2010, Play Your Magic Finger, Tobucil & Klabs, Bandung.
2010, La Light Music Fest, Sabuga, Bandung.
2009, Deer Andry, Mes 56, Yogyakarta.
2009, Toys Are Us, Tobucil & Klabs, Bandung.

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