Almine Rech London is pleased to present an exhibition of recent works by Roby Dwi Antono, on view from January 11 to February 17, 2024.
‘TUK’ runs from January 11 — February 17, 2024.
This solo exhibition is a presentation of works Roby has created since the birth of his firstborn daughter, Laut, in July 2023. The works are inspired by his experiences as a new father and the impact starting a family has had on him. Roby confronts the challenges, joys and anxieties of parenthood all the while nurturing his hopes and dreams for the future.
His maturing outlook on life has extended beyond comprehending his own life as an artist, but also his role as a member of a family and community. This shift led him to exploring a new artistic expression executed in rough, raw strokes and vivid colors. It is derived from a more domestic reality. It became more crucial to capture the ever-changing tension within him, then it is to depict a detailed landscape. The movement of his paint needs to articulate his emotion.
For this new series, Roby has gone through a stylistic change from his earlier works, but his method of drawing from personal memory remains a constant. His childhood souvenirs of Ambarawa, central Java, where he had to create a man-made water source called “Belik”, a traditional well, and “Tuk”, a water spring that emerges from the well, are likened to their baby’s experience of breast milk.
The analogy of Tuk resonates deeply with Roby as he sees his artwork as a source of nourishment and inspiration. Just as a Tuk provides clean water and sustains life, Roby’s art draws on his personal memories and experiences, serving as a source of creativity and growth. […] In this way, Roby’s paintings become a metaphorical Tuk, offering a refreshing and authentic glimpse into his world and inviting the audience to reflect on their own experiences.
In Roby’s words: “The act of creating a Belik to find a Tuk now feels like a metaphor to my journey as a family man. We are flawed beings with imperfections and there are traits I may carry and pass down unconsciously to my family.”
This solo exhibition signifies a new chapter in Roby’s artistic progression, marking a fresh beginning that is far removed from the earlier days of Pop Surrealism. It represents a higher level of creative growth and maturity, signifying a state of purification and renewal, both artistically and personally.
— Farah Wardani, writer and curator
Roby Dwi Antono ‘TUK’ at Almine Rech London, Broadbent House, Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3JH 11 January until 17 February 2024
