Artist talk – Monyet Gila: Episode One and launch of Art Monthly Australasia

Saturday 19 March: Artist talk at 12.30pm // Art Monthly Australasia launch at 1pm

Artist Adri Valery Wens focuses on cultural stories of Hindu-Javanese origin, specifically the Wayang Orang (Human Puppet) performance based on two foundation epics – the Mahabharata (the story of the great Bharata Dynasty) and the Ramayana (the story of Rama’s Journey). Wens delves into the complexity and tensions of his cultural background through a series of photographic depictions of himself ‘performing’ characters within these epic narratives. Staged in Jakarta, dressed in elaborate costumes and theatrical makeup, the images translate the philosophical, political, poetic, performance and re-performance content of the epic stories through the genre of self-portraiture.

Join the artist as he discusses his work in Monyet Gila: Episode One. 

Following the talk, Art Monthly will relaunch as Art Monthly Australasia. Reflecting the magazine’s expanded Asia-Pacific coverage, Art Monthly’s March 2016 bumper edition explores Australia’s historic and contemporary engagement with Asia across the visual arts, with essays by some of Asian art’s leading curators, including Russell Storer and Mami Kataoka, artist pages by Jumaadi, and much to contemplate.

To help celebrate its launch, you are invited to join us at 4A on Saturday 19 March 2016 at 1pm.

Art Monthly’s Asia focus edition will be officially launched by Chaitanya Sambrani, followed by 20th Biennale of Sydney artist Yuta Nakamura in conversation with Jasmin Stephens.