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KENDRA AHIMSA - a surrealist take on imaginative visuals
Play of color: Artist Ardneks’ psychedelic-styled illustrations are infused with wondrous imagination and a sense of adventure
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Play of color: Artist Ardneks’ psychedelic-styled illustrations are infused with wondrous imagination and a sense of adventure. (Courtesy of Ardneks)
Kendra Ahimsa may not yet be a household name in the local art scene, but the 27-year-old’s unparalleled style promises him a very bright future ahead.
Unlike the majority of rising, younger artists here, Kendra’s artistry is incomparable to any particular well-known artist as shown during his recent solo exhibition at Kemang’s Sunset Limited.
“The Sugar Colony” is what Kendra, who is also known by his artiste moniker Ardneks, is dubbing his latest project (it is also the name of his “creative space”).
It features a collection that is an even more surrealist take on his already imaginative visuals. The Sugar Colony’s official project website describes it as such: “A quasi-mythical merryband of the wonderfully odd miniature-sized creatures — travellin’ through our blue world on a flying interdimensional carpet fueled by cosmic potassium dust, canorous music and our wandering thoughts. Appears out of nowhere into our stream of subconsciousness [sic], and floats away before we know it.”
It’s a mouthful, but it really does explain the artist’s adventurous thought process and love of the fantastical.
Kendra’s visual style may be uniquely his, but there is reference toward bubbly, warped lines, which may refer back to the psychedelic 1960s-1970s era of bands such as Pink Floyd.
The artist’s penchant for a moody, fluorescent color palette also adds to that sense of trippy surrealism, letting colors — particularly his favorite night-ocean blue and blood red — bleed into and clash with each other.
The visuals themselves feature a slew of fantastical creatures and vehicles co-existing within a dream-like surrounding.
“If I had to explain it myself, I’d say that my drawing style has always been a mishmash of what I consider my favorite things: music, films, other artists’ sceneries, objects,” explains Kendra.
He absorbs all those elements before letting the left side of his brain subconsciously absorb the imagery before processing them through his pen.
These elements also relate to his role as a guitar player for local psychedelic rock band Crayola Eyes.
For Kendra, his art is an extension of the endless things he enjoys about life.
“I enjoy melancholic songs and spend a lot of my time lying on my rooftop looking at the moon, searching for rabbit-shaped clouds, while asking all the big questions in life. At the same time I also really like going to loud concerts, oddities, various cultures, beliefs, and weird, obscure cinematic experiences. So I guess those two sides sort of blend in creating the feeling of my drawings.”
Kendra said his Ardneks work is influenced by Chilean filmmaker Jodorowsky, psychedelic music, the 1950s’ Beat Generation, the contours of plants and flowers, Ram Dass’ book on spirituality Be Here Now, writer and artist Henry Darger and painter Mati Klarwein.
Fandy Susanto from Sunset Limited said he and his twin-brother Fendy, were more than excited to be hosting Kendra’s art at their creative-hub/coffee-house.
“I’ve been following his work for quite some time. And we personally think that Kendra has a style that stands out especially regarding his coloring style. His style gives me some kind of nostalgic feeling, yet I can relate it to this era. Vintage, psychedelic, with striking colors, with lots of detail to see. It feels that we’re diving into another world. It’s fun to look at the details and discover something new every time,” he explains.
For Fandy, who has worked with numerous local artists, Kendra is an artist who stands above the rest — especially those within his age group.
“I’m grateful to see this different kind of style - at least its ‘different’ to me in the midst of the oversupply of newcomers in the art world. I think social media apps such as Instagram play quite a big role these days for these new artists. But it’s easy to see the real unique ones. I’m not surprised that he has become so well known in such a short time,” Fandy suggests, adding that he is always glad to provide space for newer artists.
“I feel that this is the field that I want to play a part in. As a graphic designer [Fandy also runs a graphic design studio], I think we need to play a part in the local community.”
As for Kendra, the artist wants people to get lost within his pieces.
“The kind of feeling I’d like to project with my drawings is for the visitors to not see things in a literal sense. My drawings are full of symbolism.”
