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When i returned to my hometown,
I was faced with its environmental issues.
My hometown is at north Bandung where
it is still being rapidly developed;
the transformation of land use.
It was around 2008-2009
that I started to focus on environmental issues.
I think my performance art is crucial.
My previous one "Zona Merah" (The Red Zone),
where I perform myself wrapping an excavator at the top of Pogor sand dune.
I performed in front my my house in my hometown.
There eviction, transformation of land use
causing the surrounding land to be flooded.
I chose a middle ground, I wrapped the excavator with red duct tape.
It was meant as an interruption,
I did it furtively, it was illegal.
Just like the eviction and the land development, were illegal.
I decided to express it visually,
so there wouldn't be any conflict
but became source of consideration for the land developers.
I planned it carefully,
the time, the act, and the observation prior to the act.
Apart from the ignorance of the land developers,
this performance art was inspired by the lack of faith the local people.
Land developers want to develop the land because they bought the land.
Originally, it was used for agriculture purpose by the local people.
I really think a more environmentally friendly idea is to transform the land into flower park or butterfly sanctuary.
I think an artist is someone who can balance things.
Between what is in reality and what is in his mind.
Should make effort to fix the problems he faces in the reality.
For example, to plan the artwork on environmental issues,
I need to learn many other things: education,
social interaction, government policy,
the balance of authority between central and local government.
And art is when I think of something beautiful.
What is beautiful?
Harmonious, ideal, balance, social awareness
I feel calm whenever I see poor kids can go to school,
fresh and natural environment,
mountain remains as it is.
I see Selasar Sunaryo Art Space as a subject matter.
It is a public art space closed to the local community in north Bandung,
a gateway to artworks and art education
that could have melded more with the local community.
I still cannot decide if this is a problem or not,
as I have not look deeper into it, SSAS's existence and
its interaction with the local community.
I take up the invitation to involve in BNE 4
to test the waters to see if my artwork is suitable to be at art space or gallery.
This will be my first time getting involved in this sort of event.
I will then have to learn more on the system of the gallery,
the art market.
When i work, I still cannot decide the time frame.
So on the right moment when I think it is finished,
then it is finished.
When asked about my work being only concept-heavy,
I think the whole idea of a concept is the effort to actualize an artwork.
About my butterfly installation work that I canceled,
I realized it was not suitable to be performed here.
The memory that I bring along while making this work
was in the midst of the local community in the land prior its transformation.
With discussion, I get constructive criticism and get to express my idea freely.