As a region evolving in the post-colonial age, the different countries and realms of Southeast Asia were once vassals and tributaries of larger empires and kingdoms. People and society are considered as connectors of past and present; defining a true profile of art and its indigenous aesthetic. The unique qualities of a Southeast Asian lineage in current art practices cannot be denied, as history, heritage and cultural influences continue to evolve and play key roles in how we communicate and create artworks today.
Land before our time is a collective showcase of large-scale works, conceptually using the elements of space and scale to connect directly to the idea of the land in Southeast Asia, and the inhabitants of the land before the time that geopolitical boundaries became evident and necessary. Featuring contemporary works by Southeast Asian artists like I Nyoman Masriadi, Yunizar, Natee Utarit, Om Mee Ai, Chua Ek Kay, Jimmy Ong and Ronald Ventura, this exhibition distinguishes both the art makers and the audience that solidify the presence of a uniquely Southeast Asian art.
Image Credits: Budi Ubrux, Lady and Lotus, 2010, Oil on canvas, 180 x 171 cm
Birds on Trees,
1973,
Oil on canvas,
117 x 165.5 cm
Sok Bangat! (Sombong Sudah Bawaan Tidak Pake Proses) (So Snooty!),
2011,
Acrylic on canvas,
150 x 200 cm
Duck Weeds in the Lotus Pond,
2007,
Ink and pigments on rice paper,
124 x 123.5 cm