Mulyana (Indonesia):

Remembering Our Collective Future

Curated by John Silvis

October 22 - November 20, 2024
 Opening Reception October 22, 6-8 pm

Performance by Maira Duarte/ Costume by Mulyana at 6pm

Sapar Contemporary is delighted to present Remembering Our Collective Future, an exhibition by a renowned Indonesian fiber artist, Mulyana. This is the artist’s third exhibition at the gallery. It coincides with the artist’s expansive solo presentation at Charles B. Wang Center /SUNY Stony Brook (Yarnscapes: Mulyana’s environmental Tapestries, Sept 13 - Dec. 10, 2024)

 Mulyana's exhibition, Remembering Our Collective Future  offers a profound meditation on the fragility of marine ecosystems, symbolized through his use of recyclable materials and the color white. The choice of white evokes both the purity of a pristine ocean and the stark reminder of environmental degradation, such as coral bleaching. Mulyana invites viewers to reflect on the current state of our oceans and consider the possibility of a radical shift in our approach to environmental preservation.

The use of recyclable plastic packaging underscores Mulyana’s commitment to sustainability, transforming disposable materials into objects of beauty and significance. This act of repurposing speaks to the broader theme of transformation—how memories and past experiences can inspire new beginnings and a reimagined world that is whole and sustainable. His intricate depictions of coral and sea creatures celebrate marine life and issue a call to action, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms and the urgent need to protect our environment.

Mulyana’s coral reef islands are meticulously crafted by hand, with each piece painstakingly crocheted from strands of recyclable plastic, creating stunning representations of marine biodiversity. His installations transform the gallery into an immersive, underwater landscape, engaging viewers on a visceral and emotional level. The collaborative nature of his studio practice, which depends on teamwork to realize a shared vision, mirrors the collective effort required to safeguard our environment.

This exhibition transcends mere visual experience—it serves as a powerful commentary on humanity's responsibility to be considerate of your neighbor and live in harmony with one another.  It invites visitors to confront how negligent human actions have led to the ecological decline of our contemporary era and presents the bleak future we face without significant intervention. By immersing viewers in this serene yet fragile environment, the exhibition stresses the urgency of maintaining nature's balance, offering a moment of collective introspection on our role in safeguarding the planet for future generations.

About Artist

Mulyana (b.1984, Bandung, Indonesia) formed his alter-ego, the Mogus (monster) in 2008, which is an acronym that merges the Gurita animal (octopus) with Mulyana’s family name (Sigarantang). His colorful, knit installations are emblematic of the global social and environmental concerns we currently face and inspire a renewed responsibility for both nature and the respect of all persons. After completing his graduate degree in art education at the University Pendidikan Indonesia in Bandung (2011), Mulyana moved to Yogyakarta in 2014 to investigate the possibility of community-based projects as an extension of his studio practice. One of the first groups of collaborators he encountered was a community of transgender women in Sorogenen village, which is well known in the Yogyakarta region. Mulyana’s signature medium of soft knit and crocheted sculptures was conceived through this partnership.

ArtJog 2018 commissioned Mulyana to create his largest installation to date, Sea Remembers (2018). Creating an immersive environment out of knit and crocheted materials, the sculpture features an expansive underwater panorama of creatures and corals, including a three-dimensionally printed whale skeleton. The work is now included in the permanent collection of the Motomoto Museum in Jakarta, Indonesia. Mulyana’s works were featured at the HERMES flagship store in Singapore. He has had a solo exhibitions at FORM/The Shed in Perth, Australia, at the Orange County Museum of Art, Los Angeles at the USC Fisher Museum of Art in Los Angeles. His works are in the collections of Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, The Textile Museum at George Washington University, USC Fischer Museum of Art.

About Curator

John Silvis is an art advisor and curator based in New York City and Berlin. In addition to advising contemporary global art collections, he is invested in creating access to the art of today through artist interviews, social media, writing, and podcasts. His curatorial practice focuses on the discourse surrounding identity, spirituality, and sustainability, and he has curated exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Vienna, Berlin, and Singapore. 

Maira Duarte is a Mexican artist, educator, and organizer based in New York. Maira creates waste-less art and performances that address social and environmental issues through the collective Dance to the People/Danza para la Gente, with projects in New York and Mexico. She has received support from the CUNY Dance Initiative, the Queens Council on the Arts and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Maira has taught for over 14 years in innumerable public schools in NYC and New Jersey, through the organizations Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Dancewave, The New Victory Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. She is an EmergeNYC 2022 Fellow and holds an M.A. in Dance Education from New York University. Maira sings and plays the ukulele, and also co-runs The Woods, a low-cost rehearsal and performance space in Ridgewood, Queens.