Aditya Novali's 'Significant Other' at Shanghart Singapore explores sibling dynamics through augmented reality

Indonesian artist Aditya Novali presented 'Significant Other' at Shanghart Singapore from 9 August to 21 November 2018, featuring abstract paintings integrated with augmented reality technology. The exhibition includes two groups of works: ten abstract paintings using the Artivive app to reveal drawings by his sister Ade, and three installations of monochromatic geometric shapes with projections of Ade's colorful drawings. Ade, a thirty-one-year-old with the mental age of a five-year-old, influenced Aditya's color choices, such as red, purple, and green, though her contributions are described as a juxtaposition rather than collaboration. The Artivive app requires downloading and positioning in front of paintings to view Ade's childlike drawings, creating a metaphor for disconnect in mental disability. Aditya's paintings display dense brushwork with underlying gridlines, while Ade's drawings feature obsessive rows of uniform shapes. The exhibition raises questions about artistic partnership with mentally disabled individuals regarding capacity and consent. It was reviewed in the Winter 2018 issue of ArtReview Asia.