Inside Out #2 by Loka Suara

Description

Inside Out #2 by Loka Suara. Artwork exhibited in ‘Irony of Being’ group exhibition at Biji Art Space, Ubud Bali, December 2024.

Loka Suara is an Indonesian contemporary visual artist from Bali. He has exhibited since 1993, both nationally and internationally. Through explorations of techniques and visual characteristics. A conceptual thinker, a silent, deep observer of the emotional and psychological currents that ebb and flow through every day. A romantic non-conformist.

We were first touched by the depth and warmth of Loka Suara’s insightful peculiarities when we discussed Shades of Stone and Love. The anecdotal way he shares the inspirations behind each of his works. They are everyday observations. Dry, to some, but poignant and humorous at the same time. I suspect there is an absurdist inside Loka Suara’s creative process. But it is subtle, deeply rooted in earth and sky, and accepting of everything in between.

Art and Irony

Ironic Loka Suara is a principle that must reside both in the mind and the actions of an artist. Why is it so fundamental? In Bali, there’s a saying that to be a true artist (pregina), one must be buduh—which translates to being “crazy” or unconventional. If an artist is not buduh, it means they have not yet reached their peak or their freedom.

Being buduh—or “crazy”—in creation and action is a vital aspect of this freedom. Irony, in this context, is part of the buduh principle. If you take an unconventional or nyeleneh (misaligned) approach, it signifies that you are stepping beyond conventional norms. If this irony is absent, it reflects that the artist has not yet achieved a deeper level of freedom, especially when influenced by commercial or tourist-driven pressures.

In addition to Irony 02 by Loka Suara, explore more of his works in Shades of Stone in Love.