About Agus Kama Loedin
Agus Kama Loedin is a contemporary mixed-media artist born in Surabaya, Java, Indonesia. He studied archaeology at Gajah Mada University Jogjakarta as well as in Leiden, Netherlands. At this time he resides alternatively in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Getting to Know Agus Kama Loedin
Culture and the people behind it have always been an amazing subject for my works. Whether it is the philosophy, the technique to produce it, or the material they use.
A K Loedin
Biography
Agus Kama Loedin has complex layers earned both by birth and by choice. With an Indo-European heritage that promises interesting challenges throughout the formative years. An education in archaeology reinforces a slant towards anthropological views, with cultivated deductive reasoning. Centred amidst all of these qualities, is an errant creativity that celebrates non-conformist freedoms whilst not being overly attached to said label. He delves deep, he drowns deep and he uncovers unseen treasures when he resurfaces, as he is sure to. A walking paradox, solitary and social, a calm volatility. An energy that vibrates with pure creativity both unruly and channelled.
Education
- 1993 Video editing and Animation production at Open Studio Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 1990 Archaeology at University of Leiden, The Netherlands
- 1981 Archaeology at Gajah Mada University Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- 1972 Junior Fine Arts Education at AKSERA (Surabaya Fine Arts Academy)
- 1971 Painting/drawing private lesson with Amang Rachman
- 1969 Junior and high school in Surabaya and Jakarta, Indonesia
Solo Exhibitions
Present – 2010
- 2023 November TURBULENCE OF EXPLORATION, Loka Art Space, Jimbaran Hub, Bali.
- 2022 November FORM-ABILITAS, ZEN1 Galery, Denpasar
- 2021December PAGGALAW, Victor Ateyza Community Art Space, Baguio
- 2021October AKUT IKUT IKAT, Altro Mondo Creative Space, Manila
- 2020 January JAGA RAGA BARA JIWA #2, Santrian Galery, Denpasar
- 2018 December JAGA RAGA BARA JIWA #1, Sangkring Art Project, Jogyakarta
- 2017 September TRANS-FORM #3, ARTOTEL thamrin, Jakarta
- 2016 October TRANS-FORM #2, Jogja Contemporary, Jogyakarta
- 2015 September TRANS-FORM, Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea, Green Belt, Makati, The Philippines
- 2011 December PUSARAN EKSPLORASI #2, Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta
- 2011 September PUSARAN EKSPLORASI #1, NuArt Sculpture Park, Bandung
2010 – 1994
- 2009 April Patterns: Rice Life, Rice World Museum, Los Banos. The Philippines
- 2001 August Cafe Galery KAMPUNG DAUN Bandung, Indonesia
- 1996 October Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- 1995 January Cafe Galery CEMARA Jakarta, Indonesia
- 1995 March Galery Koffiehuis FENNIX Leiden, The Netherlands
- 1995 May Instituut Indonesische Cursussen Leiden, The Netherlands
- 1994 July Cafe Theater RIALTO Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 1994 October Cafe Theater Cinemarijnsburg Nijmegen The Netherlands
Group Exhibitions and Residencies
Present – 2010
- 2024 May Culmination|Calm In Nation Sawidji Collaboration with Santrian Art Gallery Bali.
- 2023 September Sawidji Comes Home Sawidji Gallery Bali.
- 2015 July TIME LAPSE, Tin-Aw Galery, The Philippines
- 2015 May ART-CHIPELAGO, Pameran Seni Rupa Nusantara, Galeri Nasional Indonesia
- 2015 March MALSIMBO MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL, Puerto Galera, The Philippines
- 2014 September TANDA MATA X, Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- 2014 March MALSIMBO MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL, Puerto Galera, The Philippines. http://malasimbofestival.com/sculpture-garden/
- 2013 November MANILA ART 2013, Deux Machina, Galeri Anna, The Philippines
- 2013 November JATIM ART NOW #3, Bentara Budaya Denpasar, Indonesia
- 2013 March MALSIMBO MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL, Puerto Galera, The Philippines. http://malasimbofestival.com/sculpture-garden/
- 2013 April To Whom It May Concern, Space 4 Art, Alabang Muntinlupa, The Philippines.
- 2012 November JATIM ART NOW #2, Galeri Soemarja Bandung, Indonesia
- 2012 May JATIM ART NOW #1, Galeri Nasional Jakarta, Indonesia
- 2011 September DRAWING CONNECTIONS, Art Institute Siena, Italia
- http://www.sienaart.org/drawing-connections.html
- 2011July EKSPANSI, Pameran Besar Patung Kontemporer Indonesia, Galeri Nasional Jakarta, Indonesia
- 2011 May Pameran Nusantara IMAJI ORNAMEN, Galeri Nasional Jakarta, Indonesia
2010 – 1995
- 2010 September LANGIT, collaborative project with Don Salubayba Museum San Beda, the Philippines
- 2010 August International Triennial of Extended Media 2010, OPEN MIND OPEN WORLD, Belgrade, Serbia
- 1995 APAMANA Foundation Amsterdam Indonesian painters Eddie Hara, Nunung WS, Heri Dono
- 1995 August Galerie AMBER Limmen, The Netherlands (with sculpture of Jan leeuwenburg)
- 1995 May Goes Ziekenhuis, Goes, The Netherlands (with Fitrajaya, Ida Hajar etc)October – Museum WOW Roosendaal, The Netherlands (with Fitrajaya, Ida Hajar)
Residencies
- 2004 ASEAN, Asean Center for visual arts, Hanoi Vietnam
The Constant Musings of Agus Loedin
A mind that chatters even in the silence takes Agus Kama Loedin on many musings. Voracious for history, natural science, and spirituality all mixed with direct social interactive observations. This sets the perfect conditions for constant evolutions in his creative expressions. They are constantly changing, as far reaching and diverse, an inevitable extension of the artists’ inherent character.
Image: Agus Kama Loedin by Dian dewi Reich, Sawidji Studio
A Theoretical Anarchist
Agus Kama Loedin has the analytical predisposition to question theories with a contrariness that is not always logical. However, deductive reasoning balances the contradictions and through it somehow, emerge pattern, order and most importantly insight. It is this curiosity and the need to temper volatility which results in a creative voice that is independent and formidable.
What I love about archaeology is it provides knowledge to experiment, to think, to analyse and observe. You have to shake everything up with your thinking. If we as human beings think this way today.. how did the people in the past think? I am also a history student and I love this side of archaeology.
Agus Kama Loedin
Restlessness within and without..
The restlessness we feel as an artist from the outside has to be resolved and dealt with. In saying that, when it comes from within, this has to be worked on and channelled. This has to be developed into work. If you are unable to resolve the restlessless from outside, you will inevitably follow the market and you lose the true completeness of your creative identity.
What is outside of our control we have to surrender and let go.. but if it is from within us and our control then you have to translate that into action, you must ‘DO’..
AKL
When asked when he first considered himself an artist, Agus stated it was in Holland. It is in Holland where there is a strong footprint of his legacy.
There is a dutch word, Kraker. Kraker is a building that has not been occupied for 3 months. Anyone can then use it and this is legal. As a result there was a lot migrants. Turkish, Russian, people from all over Europe. At one point we we would occupy these places. Groups of creative people would have a base at these locations. At one building where I was active, we won legal rights to continue using the space.The government gave us subsidies and grants. This was all because it was undeniable the positive impact our creativity had on the space. We infused the building with art and cultural activites. To this day this building is still an active centre.
Agus Kama Loedin
The Importance of Self Reflection
I survived in Holland, you can say I lived by socialisation. That is the key there. I had a lot of exposure to negative social habits when I was young, but when I went to Holland I was able to have distance from that and have the opportunity to think. It is there that I learned to be alone, and reflect on things. This process of getting to know yourself and shaping your identity builds your self-awareness.
Agus Kama Loedin
Philosophical Scientist
Nature is driving us to understand and to think. How was it in the beginning, so long ago? How did people communicate before they had words? How did the early people think? What made them understand that breath and wind were connected? It is exciting, to imagine that moment of discovery.
Agus Kama Loedin
The artist considers photography as a way of exploring aspects of analytical thinking, psychology and dualism all within a very interesting art medium. He explores his creative expression through photography until 2009. Within this period his works are centred on themes of nature, human philosophy as well as human survival. Going deeply into different belief systems through anthropological research.
Research, a Creative Method
Agus Loedins’ method involves a lot of research and documentation. Whether it be abstract aspects of nature, architecture and other materials as the object of photography. As well as techniques that involve reflection and patterns (which the artist uses to reflect aspects of psychology). Getting intimately close with subjects such as bark, rice grain, ruins and stones, buildings and architecture. His photography explores evidence of human footprints.
From Photography To Wires
The process of transition between photography and wires happened without my planning. But I think the objects and the subjects showed a natural progression from photography to the work with wires. I was returning to culture and roots of heritage. In photography, it may be two pieces of photography that I weaved. Later it was the wires that I weaved. My father is also a photographer, apart from being a doctor he was also active in the arts in Surabaya. This is also a strong influence towards me becoming an artist.
Agus Kama Loedin
During this transitional period, you can see Agus Loedin explores a wide variety of materials, delving directly into sculpture of relief and semi-relief techniques. Creating works combining wood as the canvas and painting with wire through inlay and engraving. An enormous leap in medium and technique with vastly different temperaments.
Art of Mindful Method
Every new transition introduces a thoroughly developed system. Born of speculation, testing and finally, the invention of an original, unique systematic method. A visual language that translates the artists’ own gathered knowledge during the process of research and development. This is crucial in understanding the depth of the final work, like a key that unlocks a secret door.
A primary example of this is the theoretical basis of the artists’ wire weaving method. it is through the study of traditional Javanese weaving techniques and the philosophies that are inherent in Javanese culture, that he brings into his wire sculptures. Traditional methods and philosophy translated into new forms, with contemporary materials. Completing the circle of past to present in a balanced conceptualisation.
Turbulence of Exploration
The concept behind the Turbulence of Exploration exhibition is essentially a reflection of process and thinking. All the works that were exhibited here in 2023 are works that have never been shown in Bali.
Agus Kama Loedin
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