Sunday 27 July 2014

Behind New World Order - Muhamad 'Ucup' Yusuf

This exhibition runs from 25th July 2014 to 14th September 2014 at Tomio Koyama Gallery at Gillman Barracks.

The works are Socio-Political works with subjects that concern lots of Indonesian artists. In fact the artist is a founding member of the Indonesian artist-activist collective Taring Padi, hence the genre of the artworks. This group emerged during a period of domestic political turmoil, i.e. the Fall of Suharto in 1998.

One of the wood cut prints on paper was displayed next to the woodcut block which was used to print it. This I found was very interesting. The rest of the works were wood cut print on cloth. (Paper and cloth were common mediums of the Taring Padi due to the ease of production and distribution which it afforded) There were also some paintings done by the artist.

Interesting and detailed work. Have to spend sometime looking at the work to see and work out all the different things he has to say or rather mock, criticise and call attention to.



Points for Collectors: Good woodcut works. Can buy if you are interested in woodcut prints and also have an interest in works with a strong socio-political consciousness/narrative on the things (good or bad) going on in Indonesia. The artist and the group have been exhibited widely in the region and thus the works have been given the seal of approval by many gallerists and collectors too.