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Gallery's Pick up for the Month (Art Fair Asia Fukuoka 2024)

  • Gallery's Pick up for the Month (Art Fair Asia Fukuoka 2024)

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Gallery's Pick up for the Month (Art Fair Asia Fukuoka 2024)

September 20-22 2024 (VIP View Sept.19)

Art Front Gallery will participate in AFAF (Art Fair Asia Fukuoka) to be held at FUKUOKA KOKUSAI CENTER from September 20-22 (VIP View September 19).

We will exhibit in this art fair Eko Nugroho, contemporary artist representing Indonesia. Nugroho recently installed a public artwork over 5 meters high at Fukuoka Marine Messe on September 3, and is currently holding a solo exhibition at Art Front Gallery in Daikanyama. We invite you to see his works, which tackle global issues facing contemporary society and continue to create works of art, sometimes in a frontal manner and sometimes with humor.

Prior to AFAF 2024 where their works will be exhibited and sold, we will introduce the charm and background of each artist, to shed lights on their works.

Date September 20-22 2024 (VIP View Sept.19)
Hours VIP View :Sept.19(Thu) 13:00 – 19:00 / Public View :20(Fri) 11:00 – 19:00、 21(Sat) 11:00 – 19:00 、22(Sun) 11:00 – 18:00
venue FUKUOKA KOKUSAI CENTER (2-2 Chikko-honmachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, JAPAN)
Booth W02
Official website
https://artfair.asia/
Related event: FaN Week 2024 Exhibited at WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 SONGS OF SKY AND EARTH. Please come and enjoy it as well. Venue: Studio, Gallery, Grand Studio, etc. at Artist Cafe Fukuoka (2-5 Jōnai, Chuo-ku)
https://fukuoka-art-next.jp/fanweek2024/

Eko Nugroho

Eko Nugroho, one of Indonesia's leading contemporary artists active not only in Asia but also in Europe and the United States, was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 1977 and has been active in his career since the late 1990s while a student at the Indonesian Art Institute.

As a member of the "reformasi" generation that experienced the collapse of the Suharto regime and Indonesia's transition to democracy following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Nugroho enjoys the freedom of expression that has suddenly become a reality, and while he produces a diverse range of works, his works also project his own political and social consciousness.

Nugroho's work, produced in Yogyakarta, the art capital of Java, is based on two elements: Indonesian traditions and references to contemporary pop culture. While he incorporates traditional batik and embroidery styles into his work, he also draws strong inspiration from contemporary street art (graffiti, etc.) as well as comics and Japanese special effects. He works in a variety of media, including murals, sculpture, animation, tapestries, as well as drawings and paintings.

Among his new works will be "Embroidered Painting" (Embroidered Painting) and Acrylic Paintings. The works are embroidered directly on top of Nugroho's drawings by local artisans using sewing machines.

Embroidered Painting in the making

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "We are a Home" 2022, embroidered painting, 275 x 157 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

“We are a Home” is a reference to the situation of the people who are forced to flee their homes due to war, economic situation, racialization, or because of other pressing circumstances. The work questions the idea of home for those who are in a state of limbo and in search of a new place they could inhabit. While they depart with the hope of finding a better place in the lands they travel to, they encounter other difficult situations they have to face. For Eko, home is also one that exists within the bodies and minds of the immigrants who are forced to leave, an embodied temporary “home”.

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "Our Desires are Monster" 2023, embroidered painting, 267 x 155 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

The work clearly symbolizes the idea of how our desires and yearning can turn back to us in the form of a monstruous creature, a destroyer, or an oppressor. The uncontrolled desires are represented as a horrifying monster, one that we can become ourselves. These desires perpetuate the creation of such a strong ego that it has the power to transform life, like the case with wars which exist because desires have turned into monsters. The environmental damage or hostility we see in the world are also monsters emerging from uncontrolled desires. Therefore, if we do not understand and become conscious about our desires and yearnings, they could become terrifying monsters turning against ourselves.

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "History Bubbling Itself with No Story" 2022, embroidered painting, 274 x 164 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

The work speaks about the impermanence of history, because history itself, with all its significant narratives, cannot exist without us passing the stories down to the generations to come. History can be infectious or terrifying, yet also beautiful. History is made of bubbles that will evaporate, or even vanish if we don’t tell the stories.

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "Look In The Mirror and Find Your Purpose" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

This works speaks about how we see ourselves, our hopes, dreams and desires. It transmits an optimistic message to look into the mirror even when we experience difficult situation or are indecisive. All it takes is a look at ourselves and our purposes. It also speaks about learning and digging the meaning of optimism for our future steps.

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "Mind Can Easily Change Into Monster" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

A thought could easily turn us into monsters. What goes in our heads could be terrifying and scary, and we can change our minds 360 degrees and become someone unrecognizable. Our thoughts can be visually recognizable, and our appearance is the mirror to our thoughts.

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "You and Me with Perception #1" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 400 x 600 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "You and Me with Perception #2" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 400 x 600 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "You and Me with Perception #3" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 400 x 600 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

Eko Nugroho (Exhibited work) "You and Me with Perception #4" 2024, acrylic on canvas, 400 x 600 cm ⒸEko Nugroho [ASK]

The work visualizes a wild, mischievous, unique and extraordinary perspective about couples, lovers, people who take care of each other, or who fall in love with each other, about people who are happy or want to live together. There is exciting fantasy and imagination in a relationship, which sometimes may seem absurd, unique, strange or outside norms and normality or anything that is out there. The work is a symbol of freedom for fantasy in any human relationships.

Nugroho's work has a narrative that evokes social issues, but at the same time, it has a familiarity and humor that is associated with the faces of the people of the region, and a powerful and bold expression that is very appealing. Please come and see his works at the venue.



■ART FAIR ASIA FUKUOKA 2024
Art Front Gallery

Venue
FUKUOKA KOKUSAI CENTER (2-2 Chikko-honmachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, JAPAN)

Schedule
VIP View
Sept. 19(Thu) 13:00 – 19:00

Public View
Sept. 20(Fri) 11:00 – 19:00
Sept. 21(Sat) 11:00 – 19:00
Sept. 22(Sun) 11:00 – 18:00

Official website

■FaN Week2024
WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 SONGS OF SKY AND EARTH
Artist:
Eko Nugroho
Venue:
Studio, Gallery, Grand Studio, etc. at Artist Cafe Fukuoka (2-5 Jōnai, Chuo-ku)
Dates:
Sept.14(Sat)-29(Sun)
Open Hours:
11:00 - 17:00
Closed on:
September 17th and 24th 
For further information, please visit official website: 
Official website

Public art completed at Marin Messe Fukuoka, about 7 minutes walk from the Art Fair venue (FUKUOKA KOKUSAI CENTER)!

https://www.marinemesse.or.jp/congress/topics/view.php?id=252

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