Melati Suryodarmo's Singapore solo exhibition reveals uneven practice despite compelling performance art
From January 25 to March 25, 2018, Melati Suryodarmo held her inaugural solo exhibition at Shanghart in Singapore, presenting a decade's worth of her artistic endeavors. The Indonesian artist delves into themes of cross-cultural identity and femininity through her durational performances. Influenced by her background in Javanese dance and butoh, notable pieces include Exegie – Butter Dance (2000) and I'm a Ghost in My Own House (2012). Titled Timoribus, the exhibition featured performance videos, photography, and short films, though critics commented on varying quality. The live performance Transaction of Hollows (2018), where she shot 400 arrows, left a strong impression. Her photography series Self Portraits (2018) showcased double-exposed images, while short films like Timoribus (2018) explored themes of media-induced paranoia.
Key facts
- Melati Suryodarmo's first solo exhibition in Singapore was held at Shanghart from 25 January to 25 March 2018.
- The exhibition featured works from the past ten years, including performance, photography, and video.
- Suryodarmo was born in Solo and lived in Germany for almost 20 years, exploring cross-cultural identities.
- Her performance art includes durational works like Exegie – Butter Dance (2000) and I'm a Ghost in My Own House (2012).
- The exhibition title Timoribus translates to 'fears' in Latin from the dative case.
- Transaction of Hollows (2018) was a live performance where she fired 400 arrows nightly, resulting in injury and emotional collapse.
- Performance videos like 24,901 Miles (2015) address themes of nomadism and refugee experiences.
- Critics noted uneven quality across mediums, with performance art overshadowing photography and short films.
Entities
Artists
- Melati Suryodarmo
- Arahmaiani
- Heri Dono
Institutions
- Shanghart
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Singapore
- Solo
- Germany