Press Release “Soundtrack” - Solo Exhibition Yayat Surya

Curator: Anton Larenz

Yayat Surya opens a new chapter in his artistic journey with “Soundtrack”, a new series of paintings and sculptures. The theme-oriented show, presented at Srisasanti Art House, is an expedition into the world of Post-Pop, a colorful trip through the history of pop music and their icons.

Yayat Surya has been known for his Geometrical Art that is influenced by the Eastern symbols of the I-Ching and the Mandala. Now he introduces the symbolism of the I-Ching art into his Pop Art inspired works. After a series of landscape paintings which were as well based on the symbolism of the I-Ching and Mandala, Yayat Surya now explores images of pop musicians. His works tell about their lives and their views of life. They are featuring Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Marilyn Manson, Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, Prince, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Bono, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, the singer Iwan Fals, and the Indonesian rock band Slank. All of them are known as vocal and critical artists in their own special way, some expressing their protest by words and songs, others by their life style. The choice of two women and two representatives from Indonesia only reflects the power structures in the world of popular music.

All the musicians that have been chosen by Yayat Surya for his Post-Pop portraits represent a strong sense of revolt or rebellion. The artist wants leave the limits of formal Pop Art behind. He considers the Pop Art of Andy Warhol and others as meaningless, as an art without messages – unless as an idolization of materialism and consumerism. The portrayed musicians wanted to comment on society with their songs, so their messages should be understood as important and significant contributions. Yayat Surya is interested in controversial personalities who have influenced generations of music lovers. His objective is to show them in their contrariness as celebrities, living with fame and temptations.

While reviewing the images of rock and jazz musicians, he plays with optical illusion, creating almost psychedelic effects by using pixels as basic units of his portrait painting, with vivid and expressive colors. The paintings integrate different visual elements, the faces of the popular musicians are covered with written original quotations of the stars, taken from interviews and elsewhere. Other visual elements are ubiquitous hexagram of the I-Ching, commenting on the character or a special life situation of the depicted person. Additionally there are excerpts from musical scores, representing songs that are supposed to show the controversial aspects in the messages of rock music. Together these symbols form an exceptional composition of rhythm, color and shape.

The three-dimensional works refer to the realist style of Pop Art, but in an ironical manner. “Hard Rock I-III” is about the obvious machismo in the world of rock music; “Sailor John” shows John Lennon, the man who has written the song “Give Peace a Chance” in a navy uniform.

“Soundtrack” reminds of the transience of art and life; the legacy of a musician are his songs, leaving a soundtrack for future generations. Rock music used to be associated with being young but since these once youthful heroes have aged their music and power still continues.

For the opening of “Soundtrack” Yayat Surya himself will be on stage for a piece of performance art; the “Soundtrack” video clip will be released during the opening as well.

Anyway, it’s all about music…