A prominent figure in the Yogyakarta art scene, S. Teddy has exhibited extensively in Indonesia and abroad since 1998 and has been involved in several art projects based in local communities in Yogya. Although he studied painting, S. Teddy has developed a multidisciplinary practice, shifting between drawing, painting, assemblage, sculpture, installation and performance art.
For his first solo presentation at the gallery, S. Teddy has created a series of paintings which will be displayed in the Project Room and an outdoor installation of batik flags. The artist is inspired by flags for their simplicity in design, as well as for their harmonious and structured composition, which creates a striking visual effect. He finds a few national flags particularly outstanding, including those of Brazil, China, Japan and Vietnam, and re-interprets the use of patterns and the composition of these flags in his paintings. Although flags tend to be weighed down by nationalistic and political connotations, S. Teddy is drawn to the potential of this unusual format as an alternative solution to painting. In these new works, the composition is the most crucial element and the artist focuses closely on the proportions of the work, delicately balancing the imagery in relation to the negative space. These are intimate pictures awash with symbolism, often depicting ordinary people or self-portraits as the central motif. Self-portraiture is an integral part of S. Teddy’s practice and for him, it is a mode of self-expression. The recurring use of the colour red denotes a sense of optimism for the artist. His facial features are reduced to a myriad of expressive lines or dots, varying in thickness and size, giving the bare outlines of his face.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue with an essay by Tony Godfrey.
Image: S. Teddy Darmawan, flag no. 8, acrylic on canvas, 99.5 x 135 cm, 2015
Venue: EQUATOR ART PROJECTS, 47 Malan Road, #01-21 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 109444
When: 23 Jan - 22 Feb 2015,
