Eko Nugroho

In this fnal chapter, I will write about one of Indonesia’s most famous contemporary artists, Eko Nugroho. His works are visually stunning and engaging, and they also respond to social and political issues. Eko Nugroho was born in 1977 in Yogyakarta. In addition to producing wall paintings and drawings, he works on books, comics, and animated videos. Additionally, he creates works of art that tackle social issues due to his involvement with the student movement in the late 1990s. He has had solo exhibitions and presented artworks at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute (Singapore, 2013), the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art (Helsinki, Finland, 2008), and Artoteek (Den Haag, the Netherlands, 2005). He has also participated in the Lyon Biennale (France, 2013), and The 55th Venice Art Biennale (Italy, 2013), among others.

Eko’s work often creates an interface between high art and street and popular culture. He works with many diferent media, particularly those that are easily accessible. He has worked this way since he studied painting at art school (ISI Yogyakarta). He likes to expand his work by approaching diferent media and applications, such as animation, embroidery, comics, shadow puppets, batik, sculpture, and murals.

Eko’s works are always related to current social-political issues. In one of his exhibitions at Frankfurter Kunstverein in 2015, his work contained references and critiques on

The Guiding Light

current topics, including immigration, the concept of phobia, and democracy. According to him, an artist is a social member who frequently sees the world diferently from others. If artists situate themselves in their immediate surroundings, document, and interpret what happens around them, their work will always be interesting. Like how a writer can document life and society, an artist can do the same using images.

Eko Nugroho has created numerous artworks that have gained recognition and acclaim from art enthusiasts and critics. One of his most well-known works is Maju Kena, Mundur Kena (2007), which is a mural painting that covers the entire wall of a building in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The mural depicts a scene of a street protest, with people holding banners and signs with various slogans. The artwork is notable for its vibrant colors, intricate details, and strong social and political commentary. Other notable works by Eko Nugroho include Lot Lost (2011), Black is Beautiful (2013), and This is not a Game (2014).

Nugroho’s practice is rooted in the realities of his local community but has an astute global outlook. Evident in his multifaceted practice, the artist presents an awareness of the complexities and dilemmas of contemporary life in an increasingly interconnected world.

Reference

Abstract: The Art of Design, Christoph Niemann: Illustration. NETFLIX. USA: 2017.

https://www.netfix.com/watch/80093803?trackId=255824129

Cogley, Bridget. ““A Lot of the Hate I Got in the Design World Was from Other Women”, Says Jessica Walsh.” Dezeen, Dezeen, 27 Sept. 2019, www.dezeen.com/2019/09/27/jessica-walsh-design-interview/.

Cowan, Katy. “Paula Scher on Falling in Love with Typography, Timeless Identities and What It Takes to Become a Great Designer.” Creative Boom, 31 Oct. 2019, www.creativeboom.com/features/paula-scher/. Accessed 23 Feb. 2023.

Gallery, Art Front. “Dialogue: Work Commentary by Eko Nugroho.” ART FRONT GALLERY, 26 Oct. 2021, artfrontgallery.com/en/project/Other_Projects/dialogue_2017324.html. Accessed 27 February. 2023.

Jenie, Ken. “Process and Perspective with Eko Nugroho.” Whiteboard Journal, 21 Jan. 2015, www.whiteboardjournal.com/interview/ideas/process-and-perspective-with-eko-nugroho/. Accessed 27 February. 2023.