Biennale Jogja XII Equator #2 – Not a Dead End

Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Curator: Agung Hujatnikajennong
Co-curator: Sarah Rifky
16/11/2013 - 06/01/2014

Taman Berbulan Kembar (Garden with Twin Moon) installation is a strong statement on hypocrisy and the ultimate subjectivity of truth and lies in a climate of corruption and collusion - such as Indonesia’s. Eko created a square motif - in the size of traditional ceramic tiles, embroidered these squares and installed them like a tiled wall with the word HYPOCRITE spelt out by missing tiles. This motif is an appropriation from the graphic identity, flags and posters of Muslim groups in Indonesia. The imagery often deploys the sword motif and color scheme of the Saudi Arabian flag - which evoke power, intimidation and violence in order to promote their politics and world views. Green is used as a symbol of Muslim majority especially as the two largest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah use the color green in all their graphic material. As Eko says, this installation is about a society kidnapped by fake moralism and in turn selling this fake moralism to others - such as the busking box of the alien figure dressed in a traditional grass skirt which reads "Please donate your morality".

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