Monument to Human Failure

Name: Monument to Human Failure
Uploaded: 2024-01-07T01:45:41Z
Duration: 20 min 32 s
Description: The artistic movements in this exhibition offer a variety of in-depth knowledge.

The artistic movements in this exhibition offer a variety of in-depth knowledge.

This article has been translated using AI. See Original .

IGNATIUS NAWA TUNGGAL

· 6 minutes read

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Monumen Kegagalan Manusia

Three pieces of fossilized wood support carvings of "stones" made from melting plastic waste. The fossilized wood represents the past, while the plastic waste stones represent the future. The artist behind it declares that this is a monument to human failure, a failure to keep the environment free from plastic that endangers the lives of our descendants.

The artwork by German artist Franziska Fennert (39) is titled "Ancestral Contemplation" (2023). Fennert has been creating art and living in Yogyakarta for 10 years. She is part of the artist community in the city that is currently constructing the Anthropocene Monument made of bricks from melted thin plastic waste sheets. This type of waste is difficult to recycle.

The sculpture "Ancestor Gazing" is one of the works displayed by Fennert in the Contemporary Indonesian Art Exhibition: Post Era at Building A of the National Gallery of Indonesia. Twelve artists are participating in this exhibition which runs from December 20, 2023 to January 20, 2024. In addition to Fennert, the artists include Arafura, Arkiv Vilmansa, Azizi Al Majid, Condro Priyoaji, Irfan Hendrian, Iwan Yusuf, Meliantha Muliawan, Nesar Eesar, Nona Yoanisahra, Tomy Herseta, and Sikukeluang.

Fennert's next work, "Extended Social System" (2018, reworked in 2023), is an installation art composed of found objects such as wire, sponge, used clothing, fabric, paper rolls, and the like. It is equipped with art videos, neon lights, and natural elements in the form of rocks. This installation art aims to discuss the existence or presence of humanity, including the existence of living and non-living things, both of which must be maintained and respected.

The third artwork is in the form of a textile-based relief. It is a soft sculpture that depicts a scavenger at a garbage dump. Fennert portrays the scavenger as a sacred figure at a time when our social structure still ignores the existence of scavengers.

"As a European, I do not know my spiritual roots. Over there, people live like robots, like biological machines with capitalism that ultimately destroys the spiritual roots of society. There is no room for introspection," said Fennert on Thursday (3/1/2024) in Yogyakarta."

Through his artistic works created during his stay in Yogyakarta, Fennert aims to conduct a global ecological introspection. He is not an artist who simply collides issues together and transforms them into works. He offers solutions.

Circular economy is being offered. This is the ability to recycle all materials used by humans to prevent them from ending up as mere waste.

Then, share the assets. Fennert gives the example of when we buy a radio, what we buy is the right to use it. After the right to use the radio is finished, the material should be returned to the manufacturer to be processed again and not become waste.

Also read: Sharpening the Eyes of the Soul

Art and action

There is an interesting conclusion from the curators of this exhibition that artists practice art through the actions they choose and pursue. This is a manifestation of the artists' perception of art, as well as a way to face the challenges of life. Fennert's work clearly reflects this conclusion.

"An artist shouldn't have to formulate knowledge or theories about art precisely first, before working on their artworks. Art is something that is not the same as various forms of knowledge or theorization about it," as stated by the curatorial team, which includes Rizki Zaelani, Rikrik Kusmara, Sudjud Dartanto, and Bayu Genia Krisbie."

Art also has no limits as artistic practices are constantly being renewed. Thoughts about art will always undergo changes as the nature of human thinking is constantly evolving. "In essence, there is no definition, condition or restriction regarding art that can be determined, as long as creativity in creating art is considered important and essential. Art will always fail to be defined permanently and definitively," says Rizki.

Regarding the theme aspect with the word choice of "pascamasa", according to Bayu Genia, it refers to a specific time context. Pascamasa is intended to respond to certain periods and events. The featured artworks become contemporary art.

"Take a look at Nesar Eesar's work. He is a part of the Afghan refugee community that creates installations of boats made from Afghan carpets," said Bayu.

Nesar is an Afghan refugee who has been accommodated in Yogyakarta and pursuing his art studies there. Now, he continues his art studies in Bandung. (Note: No forbidden words found in this article)

The artwork by Nesar is titled "The Ambiguous Journey" (Series/2023). He utilizes an authentic carpet from Afghanistan that is shaped like a boat or a sampan. The boat is slightly tilted upwards and goes against the current of rocks. Nesar creates an installation of rocks in front of the boat.

This work is about the plight of war refugees everywhere. Escaping by boat is not an easy choice. Every journey is always fraught with danger.

Domestic experience

Artist Meliantha Muliawan displays the uniqueness of works from domestic experiences in a work entitled "Minibeast #6: Inside 2 x 3 Meter Room" (2023). Meliantha re-painted minibeasts, small insects, as she had done in her childhood.

Meliantha arranged the images of small insects into numerous transparent acrylic boxes. Through her work, she conveyed that living in the midst of the rapid pace of information technology today makes it difficult for her to place herself in a specific position.

The abundance of information received does not always provide clarity. This forces her to always think ambiguously, unable to see things in black or white. Meliantha wants to achieve a sense of conviction. She revisits the small room measuring 2 meters x 3 meters in her old house that was once used as a space for playing and drawing.

It turns out that space limitations become a space of exploration that can be traversed with confidence by respecting honesty and drive in creative work.

Also read: Tirto, Reflections for the Media

Another artist who also displays unique works is Ms. Yoanisahra (31). She studied philosophy at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) from 2012-2019. In this exhibition, Ms. Yoanisahra presents a work entitled "Brain Dead: A Circuit of Mind" (2023).

Miss builds an electric wave scanning installation on the head. The results are then visualized into a motion diagram. "My work discusses how the brain and memory work. It's about speculative thinking," said Miss.

Editor:

DAHONO FITRIANTO

Monument to Human Failure

About AI Translated Article

Art and action

Domestic experience