Voice Against Reason
18th November 2023 until 14th April, 2024
Museum MACAN
AKR Tower Level M
Jalan Panjang No. 5 Kebon Jeruk
Jakarta Barat 11530, Indonesia
Museum MACAN proudly presents Voice Against Reason, a major group exhibition that includes 24 artists and groups from across the Asia-Pacific, including Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The exhibition will open to the public on 18 November 2023, and features newly commissioned works, recent projects by leading contemporary artists, as well as contemporary works in dialogue with historical art from the Indonesian modern period.
Good Machine Bad Machine (2022)
Multi-channel video installation with robot arm sculpture
Duration 35’ 14”; 32’ 03” Courtesy of the artist, Annet Gelink Gallery
(Amsterdam) & MUJIN-TO Production (Tokyo)
Installation view of ‘Voice Against Reason at Museum MACAN, Jakarta, 2023.
Image courtesy of Museum MACAN.
Participating artists and groups include:
Bagus Pandega; Nadiah Bamadhaj; Chang En Man; Heman Chong; Griya Seni Hj. Kustiyah Edhi Sunarso, Hyphen—, Tom Nicholson with Ary “Jimged” Sendy, Aufa R. Triangga, Nasikin Ahmad; Emiria Soenassa; Galih Johar; Shilpa Gupta; I Ketut Muja; I Wayan Jana; Ika Arista; Jumaadi; Khadim Ali; Meiro Koizumi; Natasha Tontey; Tuan Andrew Nguyen; Mumtaz Khan Chopan, Ali Froghi, and Hassan Ati; Rega Ayundya Putri; S. Sudjojono; Khaled Sabsabi; Kamruzzaman Shadhin; Sikarnt Skoolisariyaporn; Amin Taasha; and The Shadow Factory.
Thailand, 1988) and Pathraj Chronicles (2023) by Kamruzzaman Shadhin (b. Bangladesh,
1974) in ‘Voice Against Reason’ at Museum MACAN, Jakarta, 2023.
Image courtesy of Museum MACAN.
What does it mean to speak up or speak out? Voice Against Reason delves into this question. It intricately weaves the fragile temporalities that link personal narratives, historical contexts, and political themes to geography, all through the perspectives of leading contemporary artists. Aaron Seeto, Director, Museum MACAN, said, “Voice Against Reason has an extraordinary line-up of some of the leading artists working across Asia. This exhibition starts with the idea that artists help us to voice and give form to issues and ideas that may sometimes be bubbling below the surface, or which may go against the grain.
synthetic dye ink Four panels, 570 x 1114 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Milani Gallery | Supported by the Australian Government
through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
Installation view of ‘Voice Against Reason at
Museum MACAN, Jakarta, 2023.
Image courtesy of Museum MACAN.
In our current age, where technology often promotes uniformity, or the writing of history masks differences, speaking up or speaking out is necessary for us to view our surroundings in more critically nuanced ways. Over the last twelve months, we have been working with artists to develop and commission a number of new works for this exhibition, which are exhibited together with major recent works by artists from across the Asian Region.
Voice Against Reason is designed to be more than just an exhibition, but a dynamic engagement between artists, artworks and audiences, which will be activated through talks, lectures, presentations, throughout the exhibition period.” Voice Against Reason is supplemented by a series of thought-provoking talks, lectures, and public programs.
These events, planned to unfold throughout the exhibition period, are designed to deepen the audience engagement with the art and the themes it explores, and is organized by Museum MACAN from across its Curatorial and Education teams, with co-curatorial support from Putra Hidayatullah and Rizki Lazuardi.
Coinciding with the exhibition opening, Museum MACAN also presents the world premiere of Sirkus di Tanah Pengasingan: Oyong-oyong Ayang-ayang (Shadows from the Land of Exiles), a new shadow play by Jumaadi and The Shadow Factory, with a limited season of daily performances from 18-26 November 2023.
This innovative shadow play is performed with hundreds of intricate paper cut-outs in various sizes and shapes–with each paper cut-out representing a fragment of a story, skillfully maneuvered by two shadow makers on two overhead projectors, accompanied by an experimental sound ensemble.
This 45-60 minute performance contains themes of historical violence and is suitable for all ages with parental guidance for young audiences. Visitors are encouraged to book their seats in advance due to the limited capacity at www.museummacan.org/shadowplay.
Voice Against Reason opens on the 18th of November 2023 until the 14th of April, 2024 at Museum MACAN
©2024 Museum MACAN
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