Eddi Prabandono’s stellar Vespa-shaped installation at a posh Jakarta mall goes beyond art as it marks a turning point in the artist’s life.

Eddi Prabandono’s installation titled After Party #3: Living the High Life, is not just eye candy.

The artwork – a modified blue Vespa that appears to have a very long spiraling seat that curves in a way like a dancing ribbon – was showcased at the 56th Venice Biennale in Italy in 2015. It is now parked at the Gandaria City mall in South Jakarta.

The stellar work marks a turning point in the life of the renowned artist when he put an end to his “mischievousness” in 1992 – recovering from multiple addictions.

Eddi said he could not forget the moments back in 1980s, when he was a “bad boy”.

At that time, when he was drunk and high, everything he saw became longer –hence the elongated seat of his Vespa installation.

These days, he embraces a healthy lifestyle, does not even smoke.

“I often get angry with people who smoke carelessly,” the 55-year old says.

At his studio in Yogyakarta, Eddi works on sequels from the After Party series that will be put on display at public spaces in Tainan in southern Taiwan as well as in Miami, the United States.

Beg to differ: Tumpangsari #2 by Eddi Prabandono is displayed at an exhibition at Semarang Contemporary Art Gallery in Central Java. (Courtesy of Eddi Prabandono)

In addition to that, he has a collaborative project with Sinta Tantra, an award-winning British artist of Balinese descent renowned for her captivating palette, to make an installation that features traffic lights and a car for the Art Jakarta exhibition scheduled to take place from Aug. 28 to 30 at the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta.

“I am also invited to join Jing’an International Sculpture Project in September in Shanghai, China,” Eddi says.

Two of his vehicle-themed works – Tumpangsari #2 which features a car and plants; and Green Green Green Go Ahead #2 that showcases a bicycle and a car door – were recently on display at a group exhibition titled Konstelasi Benda-Benda (Constellation of Things) from Feb. 6 to April 6 at Semarang Contemporary Art Gallery in Central Java.

Among the vehicles he has turned into works of art, bicycles are his favorite, as cycling is not only good for the environment but also gives him a sensation of freedom – taking in the sights, sounds and smells of everything around as he passes through.

He said that trolleys, scooters, bicycles, pedicabs, cars and other moving objects were interesting to observe, because they evoked the spirit of moving on and keeping abreast of changes – a message that echoes through his works.

Eddi discovered his passion for art when he was at elementary school, thanks to his father – an architect and art enthusiast who taught him to draw and sketch.

Eddi Prabandono (A.Kurniawan Ulung)

His own passion grew from drawing to sculpting human figures. “I have dreamed of being an artist since I was little,” said the big fan of renowned artist Agus Suwage.

Eddi said he wanted to be like the world-famous painters Affandi and Vincent van Gogh after listening to stories told by his father about the masters and their works.

After graduating from high school in 1983, he kept his dream alive, although a major that he took, state administration, had nothing to do with art.

Realizing that he had picked the wrong major at college and finding that social and political sciences were not his cup of tea, Eddi skipped classes and gradually turned into an alcoholic and heavy smoker.

He later decided to abandon his education and went back to square one by enrolling at Indonesia Art Institute (ISI) Yogyakarta.

Eddi recalled that he was so happy to be admitted at the institute that he committed to embarking on a healthy lifestyle and become a diligent student in a bid to realize his dream.

Eddi walked the talk. He studied art seriously and in his early years at the ISI he joined international exhibitions with his senior, Heri Dono, who had made a name for himself as the brightest student on campus for his mind-blowing artworks.

Eddi said studying at ISI, with printmaking as a major, was one of the best experiences of his life. For him, it was not just a school but also a home, as he was allowed to live and sleep there to minimize his living costs in Yogyakarta.

New day: Eddi Prabandono's studio in Yogyakarta showcases the artist’s touch. (A.Kurniawan Ulung)

His relationship with campus staff was like that of brothers and sisters. “They even gave me access to enter a classroom at night to polish up my pictures or designs during examinations,” he recalled, laughing.

Eddi, however, failed to finish his education at the ISI. When working on his final assignment, he tied the knot with a Japanese textile artist in 2000. Before leaving for Japan, he planned to return to Indonesia as soon as possible to complete the assignment, but that plan never became a reality, and he stayed with his Japanese family in Okinawa for more than five years.

He dropped out of the ISI for missing deadlines.

“That does not mean I underestimated school. For me, it is very important, even though many say a university diploma is not necessary to be an artist,” said Eddi, who had taken part in artist residencies in Japan, London and New York.

Since ISI, one of his best friends is Handiwirman Saputra, who has stuck with Eddi through thick and thin.

Eddi said he was not surprised by Handiwirman’s participation in the Venice Art Biennale in 2019, aware of his colleague’s captivating works since the 1990s. “Handiwirman’s works are simple but smart,” he said.

For Eddi, artwork is good if it is simple but delivers the message, not just “look visually clever but confusing”.

For aspiring artists who wish to have an international career, Eddi says, the key is “to make something different and stay consistent”. (ste)