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Indonesian artist Andra Semesta chronicles the visions behind his art
A solo exhibition by Indonesian artist Andra Semesta traced his artistic development through the years.
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Musical meditations: The “Musical Mandalas“ sketches are studies in spirituality and music as much as they are about technique.
(JP/Tunggul Wirajuda)
A solo exhibition by Indonesian artist Andra Semesta traces his artistic development through the years.
The wooden bird seemed set to fly from the terrace of Semesta’s Gallery in South Jakarta’s Lebak Bulus district, its head aimed at the open sky. Titled Flight, the dynamic spread of the wings furthered the notion of flying away. Yet the epic dimensions of the works by Andra Semesta belied their simple beginnings.
“Wood of a big fallen tree from the Semesta’s Gallery area was recycled to be the gallery’s furniture, and Andra brought the small remaining pieces not used to [sic] his studio in hopes that they could be incorporated in future works/compositions,” said the caption for the 20 centimeter by 340 cm by 340 cm wood with acrylic paint installation. “Seeing the last big empty space near the big ‘window’ at the…exhibition area prompted Andra to shape the wood pieces into a giant bird ready to take flight out the window and toward the green horizons.”
Taking a page from the natural world
Flight is one of the works in Animal Symmetry, one of three collections of Andra’s art, featured at the In-House Artist Exhibition: Andra Semesta event in Semesta’s Gallery.
“Andra saw a lot of birds flying around the skies of [Semesta’s Gallery’s] green surroundings and through…[its] open window spaces,” read a caption for the work. Depicted in vibrant acrylic purple, green, yellow and brick red, the birds reflected their place in the Adelphi University alumnus’ psyche.
