” IF ” at Sangkring Art Project, Yogyakarta

Microcosm of I Made Arya Palguna: Introduction on I Made Arya Palguna Solo Exhibition “IF”

“I started painting animals because I like them”. Artist I Made Arya Palguna explains his motivation to painting animals. Yet, one would soon realize that this statement is far too simple to read his work fully.

As a Balinese, it seems quite natural for Palguna not only to become an artist, but also to capture the agrarian lifestyle and nature from his observations and memories. Palguna was drawn to portray the relationship between humans and animals as he thought animals sometimes resemble humans, either physically or emotionally. This relationship is a common theme explored by many artists, but Palguna has given human-like qualities to animals, creating unique characters of his own that bring human and animal into one. These characters have appearances never seen anywhere else, with disproportionate bodies and abstract facial features. However, they are full of wit – sometimes brazenly smoking as if they were human beings – which makes them even weirdly friendly. What is most striking are their facial features and expressions, especially the eyes that attract viewers into the work for a closer examination, and to find themselves reflected in the animals. At this point, much more than the artist’s simple love for animals are conveyed through the work.

For his solo exhibition “IF” at Sangkring Art Project, Palguna presents two large paintings: Symbiotic Mutualism and Tough Guy; I will take you to heaven.

Tough Guy; I will take you to heaven expresses Palguna’s peculiar humor to its full extent. Amongst the complex layers of figures and planes are symbols and erotic metaphors that fill the canvas. By employing certain animals to represent specific qualities commonly associated with them, for example, horses for wildness and monkeys for playfulness, Palguna talks about human’s fundamental happiness: love and intimacy. The artist’s cheerfulness and honest imagination, embodied by the “tough guy”, takes not only the “woman”, or the female horse, but also viewers to happiness.

On the other hand, Symbiotic Mutualism communicates the artist’s concern for environmental problems. Palguna has always commented on social issues surrounding him through his works – in this case, about the impact of modernization and globalization on natural environment. The animals are crawling and stretching their bodies towards the “oasis”, striving to survive. Yet, Palguna stays optimistic and suggests that through symbiotic and mutual relationship between humans and animals, circle of life will be maintained. In the end, despite the rifle stepping on the mountain terraces, flowers manage to bloom at the center of the artist’s microcosm.

“IF” serves as an opportunity for all to dive into the tales told by the artist, engage with the animals, and find out what they have to reveal about ourselves and our world.

– Heyeon Kim
Curator, Gallery LVS