Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
Catalogue Essay
‘What I want is for people to look at the paintings and smile, but also stand there stunned or with a sense of sadness.’ Roby Dwi Antono
Indonesian contemporary visual artist Roby Dwi Antono has created a unique visual language that fuses the tradition and aesthetics of Surrealism and Classical Renaissance imagery. Typically featuring starry-eyed children, mythological creatures and his personal pop cultural heroes such as Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and American rapper Tyler the creator, the artist plumbs the depths of his imagination and surroundings for inspiration and creates pieces that are deeply personal. Human experience is central to the idea and visual aspects of Antono’s works, his rich and smooth brushstrokes pulsate with an emotional depth that evokes vivid imagination and empathy. Inspired by the surrealist painters Mark Ryden and Marion Peck, the fantastical appearance of Antono’s subjects conveys melancholic grace and mysterious playfulness. Trained as an illustrator, the deftness and precision of the artist’s hand are clearly seen in the portrayal of this deceptively naïve child.
Gradually earning his claim in the Southeast Asian art scene and beyond, Antono has been featured in various exhibitions in Jakarta, the Philippines, Singapore and Japan.