ISWANTO HARTONO [born1972], Indonesia
Iswanto Hartono is one of the few contemporary Indonesian artists with a background in architecture. Known as an artist with a conceptual base, Iswanto has been exhibiting his works since the late nineties, showing works with a strong social and political content. Iswanto’s works betray his interest in history/memory, globalization, and geopolitical powers, post-colonial, in race/identity. He admits that as an artist who was born and grew up in Indonesia, social and political issues are inextricably linked to his process of works.
Iswanto’s works, however-mostly in the form of painting, digital print, text/poems, video, multimedia, architecture, and site-specific works – really state critical opinions in explicit and stereotypical manner. Iswanto likes to revisit history to unveil narratives that people have largely ignored. He tends to muse on the latest issues of both international politics-such as conflict among nations, wars, and transfer of power-that are our daily fare, and also on Indonesian history and socio-political issues, he conveys the issues with a highly personal perspective.
Most of his works deliberately steer away from explosive and responsive artistic expressions and presenting unpredictable idioms.
Hartono is particularly interested in Indonesian traditions and parts of that country’s history that have consciously been forgotten. Previous projects revolved around colonisation and post-colonial debates and the battle of identity in contemporary Indonesia.
A member of ARTLAB, ruangrupa, Jakarta
Solo Show
2021 OTA [Oei Tiong An], Hofke van Chantrain, Belgium
2017 ISWANTO HARTONO, Oudekerk, Amsterdam, Europalia Indonesia
2010 MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE, Galeri Canna, Grand Indonesia, Lower Ground, Jakarta Indonesia
2009 MOOD INDIGO, Gasatelier Landeshaupstadt, Dusseldorf, Germany
2008 VOID, Maruki Museum, Saitama, Japan
2007 MELLOW, Gallery K, Tokyo
2007 BLUE, Galeri Soemardja, ITB, Bandung
2006 OIL INCORPORATED, Cemara6 Galeri, jakarta
2005 GAME IS NOT [YET] OVER, with AK-47, Galeri Lawang, Jakarta
2004 OIL INCORPORATED : works in engine oil, RED MILL GALLERY, VERMONT STUDIO CENTER, USA.
2002 Nest and Solitude, Lembaga Indonesia Perancis [Indonesia France Institute], Yogyakarta
Selected Group Show
2020 The World After, Oudekerk, Amsterdam
2018 Jateng Biennale 2018, Semarang, Indonesia
2018 Beyond Wonder: Perspective of Utopia, Nagoya, Japan
2018 DAK’ART 2018, Dakar Biennale 2018, Dakar, Senegal
2018 Ranah Se Rantau, Bintaro Xchange, Bintaro, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
2017 COSMOPOLIS #1 [ with ruangrupa], Centre Pompidou, Paris
2016 Sonsbeek 2016 TRANSACTION, Arnhem, The Netherlands
2016 Aichi Triennale 2016: Rainbow Caravan [with ruangrupa], Nagoya, Japan
2014 31st SAO PAULO BIENNAL 2014 [with ruangRupa], Sao Paulo, Brazil
2014 IRELAND BIENNAL EVA INTERNATIONAL #AGITATIONISM 2014, Limerick City, Ireland
2014 THE WALL/STRUCTURE/CONSTRUCTION, ARK GALERIE, Yogyakarta
2013 JAKARTA BIENNALE 2013: SIASAT [with ARTLAB, ruangrupa], Jakarta
2013 4th SINGAPORE BIENNALE 2013: IF THE WORLD CHANGE, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
2013 VERTICAL VILLAGE [with Artlab ruangrupa], 4A Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney
2013 DOBRAK! [with Aryo Danusiri], Cemeti Art House, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
2013 Market Forces: Friction of The Opposites, Osage Gallery, Hongkong
2012 ASIA PACIFIC TRIENALLE 7 [with ruangrupa], Brisbane, Australia
2012 ARTJOG 2012, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
2012 Bandung Pavilion, INTER-CITY PAVILION, 9 SHANGHAI BIENALLE 2012 [with Raqs Media Collective], Shanghai, China
2012 ARTDUBAI 2012, Dubai
2011 JAKARTA BIENNALE 2011: MAXIMUM CITY, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 JOGJA BIENNALE 2011: EQUATOR #1, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
2011 CITYNET ASIA 2011, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
2011 EKSPANSI, Pameran Besar Patung Indonesia, National Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 INDONESIAN EYE, Saatchi Gallery/Ciputra Marketing Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 SIM CITY, National Gallery, Jakarta Indonesia
2011 ASIA TRIENALLE MANCHESTER 2011 [with ruangrupa], Manchester, UK
2011 NEXT TWS 10 YEARS!, Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo, Japan
2011 SINGAPORE BIENALLE 2011: OPEN HOUSE [with ruangrupa], Singapore
2011 BEASTLY, Rumah Seni Cemeti, Jogjakarta, Indonesia/Salihara, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 1001 PINTU, Ciputra Marketing Galeri, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 MENTAL ARCHIVE, Rumah Seni Cemeti, Jogjakarta, Indonesia
2011 HANYA MEMBERI TAK HARAP KEMBALI, Ruangrupa 10th, Galeri Soemardja, Bandung – Kedai Kebun Forum, Jogjakarta
2010 Article 8, Tokyo, Japan
2010 MANIFESTO OF THE NEW AESTHETICS: 7 ARTIST FROM INDONESIA, Institute of Contemporary Art, Lasalle College, Singapore
2010 ECCE HOMO, Galeri Semarang, Indonesia
2009 Next Nature, Vanessa ArtlLink/National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta
2009 PARCOURS INTERDIT, Malkasten Park, Dusseldorf, Germany
2009 ARENA: JAKARTA BIENNALE XIII 2009 . FLUID ZONE, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta
2008 What Game Shall We Play Today? Tokyo Wonder Site, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
2008 Labyrinth, with Hamad Khalaf, Gaya Fusion Gallery, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
2007 KUOTA INBOX 2008, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta
2007 Demi Massa, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
2006 Voices from the Forest, Kanagawa, Japan
2005 CP Biennale 2005, with AK-47, Museum BI, Jakarta
2005 abstrak[dicoret], galeri cemara 6, Jakarta
2005 TRANSINDONESIA: Scoping Culture In Contemporary Indonesian Art, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Playmouth, New Zealand
2004 Mapping Indonesian Art, ISCP Open Studio, New York
2004 Small Works, Kahn Barn, VERMONT STUDIO CENTER, USA.
2003 Geumgang International Nature Art Exhibition 2003, Gong-ju, Korea
2002 The Exhibition of Geumgang Nature Art Project 2002, Gong-Ju Cultural Center, Korea
Residency Programs
2009 Kulturamt Landeshaupstadt, Dusseldorf, Germany
2008 TOKYO WONDER SITE, Tokyo, Japan
2004 VERMONT STUDIO CENTER, Johnson, USA
Grant and Fellowship
2009 Kulturamt Landeshaupstadt, Dusseldorf, Germany
2003-2004 Freeman Asian Award Full Fellowship 2003/2004, Freeman Foundation, USA
2000-2002 General Cultural Scholarship Scheme, Indian Council for Cultural Relationship, New Delhi,India
Affiliation
2008-present ARTLAB ruangrupa, Jakarta Indonesia
2018 Gudskul, Jakarta Indonesia
2019-2022 artistic direction [ruangrupa], documentafifteen, Kassel, Germany
Guest Professorship
2023 UniArts, Helsinki, Finland
2022/23 HFBK Hamburg, Germany
2022 Kunsthochschule Kassel, Germany
Selected Collections
Museum Akili, Jakarta
Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam
Singapore Art Museum, Singapore