Ardi Gunawan Indonesian, b. 1983
The Meaning is (Traditionally, Religiously) Confused, 2024
acrylic on canvas
127 x 98 cm
This painting employs a fluid technique, manipulating wet paint to create swirling effects that evoke a sense of fluidity and transformation. This method contrasts the soft, ethereal blending with the...
This painting employs a fluid technique, manipulating wet paint to create swirling effects that evoke a sense of fluidity and transformation. This method contrasts the soft, ethereal blending with the sharper, exaggerated edges of distorted food items—cakes, fruits, and colorful dishes—creating a tension between form and formlessness. The swirling paint, combined with the chaotic abundance of the scene, feels alive, as if still in the process of becoming, reflecting a sense of sensory overload.
The dense composition, with its saturated hues and lack of negative space, amplifies the sensation of excess and indulgence. The exaggerated, whimsical food forms in an abstract style introduce a playful and fantastical element, suggesting a humorous or surreal take on traditional still-life painting.
Two central creatures with wide eyes and pointed ears, alongside a star with eyes (often symbolizing divine guidance in Christianity), introduce a surreal atmosphere. These characters add an element of confusion, inviting a humorous interpretation of religious symbolism, blending the Last Supper and the three wise men led by a star to Jesus with a distorted, almost cartoonish celebration of indulgence.
By painting from a Pinterest screenshot, this work engages with the culture of digital consumption, reflecting how platforms like Pinterest shape visual ideals. The piece questions originality and authorship, translating fleeting digital moments into something tangible and personal while critiquing and celebrating the overwhelming visual excess of the digital galaxy.
The dense composition, with its saturated hues and lack of negative space, amplifies the sensation of excess and indulgence. The exaggerated, whimsical food forms in an abstract style introduce a playful and fantastical element, suggesting a humorous or surreal take on traditional still-life painting.
Two central creatures with wide eyes and pointed ears, alongside a star with eyes (often symbolizing divine guidance in Christianity), introduce a surreal atmosphere. These characters add an element of confusion, inviting a humorous interpretation of religious symbolism, blending the Last Supper and the three wise men led by a star to Jesus with a distorted, almost cartoonish celebration of indulgence.
By painting from a Pinterest screenshot, this work engages with the culture of digital consumption, reflecting how platforms like Pinterest shape visual ideals. The piece questions originality and authorship, translating fleeting digital moments into something tangible and personal while critiquing and celebrating the overwhelming visual excess of the digital galaxy.
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