Eko Nugroho

Eko Nugroho is one of the most acclaimed members of the young generation of Indonesian contemporary artists. In recent years, he has exhibited widely throughout Asia and Europe. He has participated in a number of major international shows, including the Busan Biennale in Korea (2008); Wind from the East at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, Finland (2007); The 5th Asia-Pacific Triennial in Brisbane, Australia (2006); and the Taipei Biennale in Taiwan (2006). His work was seen for the first time in a New York gallery exhibition, Tales from Wounded-Land, at Tyler Rollins Fine Art in 2009.

Nugroho is part of the generation that came to maturity during the period of upheaval and reform that occurred in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the subsequent fall of the Suharto regime and the transition to democracy in Indonesia. He is deeply engaged with the culture of his time and is committed to making socio-political commentary in his work. For Tales from Wounded-Land, Nugroho presents a major new work, a triptych entitled Human Religion, that address the role of religion in contemporary Indonesia.

Nugroho grew up in Java and resides in one of the island’s major art centers, Yogyakarta. His works are grounded in both local traditions and global popular culture. In particular, he has cited the influence of traditional batik and embroidery styles, as well as Javanese shadow puppetry. The influence of the latter can be seen in the strange, hybrid figures that appear in his works. There is of course also a powerful inspiration from contemporary street art, graffiti and comics. In 2000, Nugroho founded Daging Tumbuh, a collaborative zine that invites participation from non-artists. In addition to drawings and painting, he works in a variety of other media, including murals, sculpture, animation, and tapestry.