FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Batikkomik !

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono, Seduction By The Lakeside, batik painting on cotton, 157 x 116 cm, 2014
Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono: Batikkomik
Curated by Tony Godfrey
Friday, 31 October – Sunday, 30 November 2014
Exhibition Opening | Friday 31 October, 6.30 - 9pm
Equator Art Projects is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by Indonesian artist, Bambang
‘Toko’ Witjaksono, in Singapore. For his upcoming show, Bambang Toko has produced a new
series of work experimenting with the techniques of traditional batik making.
A well-recognised figure in contemporary Indonesian art, Bambang Toko is an artist, curator,
educator and also one of the founding members of the artist collective, Apotik Komik (Comic
Pharmacy). He is known for his bright, graphic style which references imagery from vintage
Indonesian comics and pop culture. Reminiscent of Roy Lichtenstein’s comic strip paintings, the
forms within the composition are built up through flat expanses of vivid colour and are highlighted
with solid black outlines, achieving a stenciled effect. On occasion, text is incorporated into the
EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
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composition through the use of a speech bubble. These works are fused with playful narratives
and filled with tongue-in-cheek humour.
For this exhibition, Bambang Toko will present a selection of batik paintings on both cotton and
plywood. These new works reveal a shift in Bambang Toko’s artistic practice and are an
exploration of new materials, as well as the potential of batik as a medium for painting.
Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono (b. 1973, Yogyakarta – Indonesia) graduated with a BFA in
Printmaking from Indonesia Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta, where he has been a lecturer
since 1999. He later completed his MFA at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 2004.
Bambang has participated in artist residency programmes in Liechtenstein (2003), New Delhi
(2006) and Darwin (2008). He has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Indonesia
and abroad. Selected solo shows are Jakarta Art District (2010); Valentine Willie Fine Art, Kuala
Lumpur (2009); Darwin Visual Art Association, Darwin (2008); Toimoi Art + Design Gallery,
Jakarta (2007) and Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta (2001). He has participated in a plethora of
group exhibitions at mo_space, Manila (2014); Nasional Galeri Indonesia, Jakarta (2013);
Piccadily Place, Manchester (2011); Biennale Jogja X (2009), Langgeng Gallery, Magelang
(2008); Valentine Willie Gallery, Singapore (2008) and Selasar Sunaryo, Bandung (2007). The
artist lives and works in Yogyakarta.
About Equator Art Projects
Equator Art Projects developed out of Langgeng Art Gallery, Magelang and Jakarta, which for
nine years held exhibitions of the best Indonesian artists. Tony Godfrey, ex-Head of Research
from Sotheby's Institute and author of several books on contemporary art, has combined with
Deddy Irianto, founder of Langgeng Art Gallery and the non-profit Langgeng Art Foundation
Yogyakarta, to make a gallery based in Singapore that will: (a) act as an international showcase
for Indonesian artists, (b) be a forum for discussion, experimentation and research, (c) show art
from other countries especially The Philippines, Singapore and England. Other than the main
gallery space, there are two project spaces. We are also proposing a dynamic programme of
talks and publications. Our recent exhibitions include Indonesian Painting IV (featuring eight
artists from the Philippines and Indonesia: Alfredo Esquillo Jr., Indieguerillas, Mark Justiniani, Joy
Mallari, Arturo Sanchez Jr., Srihadi Soedarsono, Uji 'Hahan' Handoko Eko Saputro and Entang
Wiharso), Do You Believe in Angels? (presenting works by over fifty artists including Ay Tjoe
Christine, Heman Chong, Geraldine Javier, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Bambang "Toko" Witjaksono,
MM Yu and Zhao Renhui), Painting in Singapore (works by nine artists including Milenko Prvacki,
Ian Woo, Jeremy Sharma and Jane Lee) and solo projects by Srihadi Soedarsono, Ivan Sagita,
Oky Rey Montha, Yuli Prayitno, Sunaryo, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra, Wiyoga Muhardanto, Maria
Jeona Zoleta and Jason Lim.
For further information & press enquiries please contact:
Charmaine Lim | +65 6694 3727 | charmaine@eqproj.com
EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
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PRESS IMAGES
Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono, Secret Conversations, Only God Knows,
batik painting on cotton, 145 x 110 cm, 2014
EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
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Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono, Yes, I'm OK, batik painting on cotton, 101 x 156 cm, 2014
EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
!
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Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono, Your Face Is In My Comic Book, batik painting on cotton, 101 x 156 cm, 2014
EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
!
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Bambang ‘Toko’ Witjaksono, Natural Freshness, batik painting on plywood, 45 x 35 cm, 2014
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EQUATOR ART PROJECTS 47 Malan Road #01-21 Gillman Barracks Singapore 109444 info@eqproj.com www.eqproj.com
Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 12pm – 7pm and Sunday: 12pm – 6pm. Closed on Monday & Public Holidays
!