Institut Teknologi Bandung

Dr. Tisna Sanjaya was invited to the exhibition by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Thailand, Rachmat Budiman. According to Tisna, this art exhibition was carried out to promote cultural dialogue between the two nations.

Not only Dr. Tisna, artists from Bandung and Jogja were also invited as Indonesian cultural ambassadors. The artists that were invited are Nasirun, Zico Albaiquni, Erica Hestu Wahyuni, Hari Budiono, Putu Sutawikaya, Zico Albaiquni, erica Hestu Wahyuni, Hari Budiono, Bambang Herras, Rendra Santana, Jumaldi Alfi, Gatot Pujiarto, and Galuh Tajimalela.

Before this exhibition at the Thailand National Art Gallery, Dr. Tinas had also been invited to the Documenta Fifteen exhibition at the Kassel, Germany. That exhibition took place from Saturday (18/06/2022) until Friday (23/09/2022). In Kassel, Dr. Tisna had a chance to collaborate with worldwide art and cultural networks such as JAF Jatiwangi and the worldwide collective art community.

At the Indonesian Painting Exhibition KBRI Bangkok, Dr. Tisna exhibited a painting and a body print. The theme that he presented is “Lockdown, Greed, and Hypocrisy”. That theme is Dr. Tisna’s reflection on the pandemic that had been going on for two years.

Earth Body, Paddy Husk, Turmeric Spice, Soil on top of a canvas. Photo: Doc. Tisna Sanjaya

According to him, pandemic has claimed many lives, physically and psychologically. “Because the virus that has caused pain in this earth is not far from our own lack of consciousness in managing the environment and our daily life. We treat nature carelessly, we behave greedily, and becoming a mentally destructive society,” said Dr. Tisna Sanjaya.

Through his creative painting method, Dr. Tisna wants to convey to the world the importance of mutual cooperation, compassion, and delicacy. For him, there exists a glance of peaceful imagination between all the paradoxes of human actions, which are oftentimes filled with war and destruction. "We will never stop to convey our idea of peace to the world through the creativity of artmaking. No matter the size and form of our effort, we will keep conveying the art of prayer, the prayer of art, and peace," said that Indonesian painter.

In creating his art, Dr. Tisna's works are not limited to oil painting on a canvas, but he also explored other media such as soil, spices, dust, leaf, water, and mud. These ingredients were used contextually in order to create a connection between those environmental elements on whichever theme he had chosen. One of the processes of creating a painting using soil as its media was carried out by Dr. Tisna while chatting with Cigondewah locals. This was done to build a dialogue on art and environment with the local residents.

Earth Body, Paddy Husk, Turmeric Spice, Soil on top of a canvas. Photo: Doc. Tisna Sanjaya

Besides the exhibition, Dr. Tisna also visited the University of Chulalongkorn. That visit was carried out to expand his relationship with fellow artists there. Tisna hopes that in the future a good relationship with ITB from an academic stance, and even for the artist communities outside the campus. For him, the artist's role is important in establishing a movement and introducing culture.

Lastly, a message from Dr. Tisna Sanjaya for Indonesian artists or would-be artists is to never stop creating art. According to Dr. Tisna if the hands are gentle, then the eyes, heart, and gestures will also become gentle. "Besides, you must also have time to meditate, pray. So, from there emerge epics, emerge aesthetic values, emerge stimulating values from art, whether will be useful or not. So, art will contain morals, values, meanings, and introspection. So, art is very important," he said.

Reporter: Inas Annisa Aulia (Visual Art, 2020)
Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)