Gajah Gallery will make its inaugural appearance at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, showcasing a solo exhibition of the late Balinese artist I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (1966-2006) in the Survey sector. Following the gallery’s successful presentation of Murniasih in the Feature sector at Art Basel Basel 2023, this exhibition marks another significant milestone in recognising the artist’s remarkable contributions to Indonesian and Southeast Asian art.
The gallery will feature a selection of significant yet previously unseen works by Murniasih, a pioneering figure in the predominantly male-dominated Indonesian art scene of her time. Murniasih’s art, characterised by its bold, introspective depictions of humanity, sexuality, and the enigmatic depths of the psyche, challenges conventional norms and offers a unique female perspective.
Born in Bali in 1966, Murniasih’s early life was marked by adversity and profound resilience. Enduring hardships, including surviving sexual abuse by her father in her childhood, she worked various jobs before embracing her calling as an artist. Trained briefly under the tutelage of artist I Dewa Putu Mokoh, Murniasih predominantly forged her artistic path through self-discovery, cultivating a style characterised by bold lines and vibrant colours. Departing from traditional tropes, she delved into deeply personal subject matter derived from her traumatic past and vivid dreams.
Murniasih’s art serves as a candid expression of her innermost struggles and desires, often infused with humour and honesty. Her paintings depict female figures unabashedly embracing pleasure, while surreal and grotesque forms challenge conventional notions of beauty and femininity. Initially perceived as shocking or strange, her works ultimately reveal an artist breaking free from societal constraints and personal traumas, redefining the boundaries of Balinese identity and artistic expression.
The selected artworks in this exhibition provoke nuanced discussions surrounding trauma, healing, and the intricacies of feminine desire. Iconic pieces, such as her series portraying sharp objects piercing erotic body parts, challenge societal taboos surrounding female sexuality and self-pleasure, reclaiming agency over the female body. Her depictions of distorted bodies reflect her own experiences of sensory overwhelm. Whether through her provocative depictions of self pleasure or the surreal juxtapositions of the corporeal and the metaphysical, Murniasih’s oeuvre transcends temporal and spatial boundaries.
Since her premature death in 2006, Murniasih’s works have garnered acclaim across Southeast Asia and beyond for their strength, originality, and ability to transcend stereotypes. Her work has been exhibited in or acquired by prestigious institutions such as Tate, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Singapore, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN), the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, and the University of Chicago.
