Nyoman Masriadi debuts at the inaugural Basel Hong Kong ferociously yielding two large double edged swords; ready to brave yet another battle. Gajah Gallery proudly presents renowned artists Nyoman Masriadi, Yunizar, Ay Tjoe Christine and Ashley Bickerton at Basel HK Hall 1, 1C38. Nyoman Masriadi, Yunizar, Ay Tjoe Christine are leaders of the Indonesian art scene that saw a resurgence in the post-Suharto era. Known for their personalised views, they represent a departure from their predecessors whose works were concerned mainly with social political issues. Ashley Bickerton, born in Guernsey and has lived in Bali for the past 18 years, joins this group.
Nyoman Masriadi, very much a recluse in the Asian exhibition circuit, came to prominence in the late 1990’s with his iconic black figures which later came to symbolise his defiance of the art world. Recently the subject of a monograph by the respected art historian TK Sabapathy, Masriadi will be honoured for his contributions to art by New York’s Asia Society in Hong Kong on the 20th of May. Currently his paintings are among the most highly valued contemporary works in Southeast Asia.
Yunizar imprinted himself onto the contemporary scene by defying the regional artistic movement that emphasised socio-political themes. Yunizar came to prominence in 2007 with his Coretan (scribbles) series that was exhibited at the National University of Singapore museum in 2007. Asian art critics see within his seemingly playful works sophisticated comments on the region’s art world. Yunizar will debut his most recent accomplishment at YAL, a mixed media paper work scattered with Swarovski crystals.
Ashley Bickerton, pioneer of the Neo-Geo (Neo-Geometric Conceptualism) movement in the US, displays a work from his important portrait series which may be described as an antithesis to Gauguin’s experience in the Pacific. An icon of the art world, Bickerton has held countless exhibitions over the past 25 years at institutions such as the Guggenheim and Museum of Modern Art in New York and Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
