Exploring New Possibilities at A Studio, Reimagined, an Exhibition by Florto Studio
On October 26th, Bali-based design studio Florto Studio, officially opened their group exhibition A Studio, Reimagined. Held at Dalam Seniman Contemporary Art Gallery, the exhibition takes the illustrators of Florto Studio out of the studio with a momentary reprieve from meeting the needs of their clients. In A Studio, Reimagined, illustrators Monez, Gusde Shidi, Ode Baskara, Umah Yuma, and Ayu Sujati allow us to see deeper into their individual perspectives as reflected in their work.
Established in 2020, Florto Studio was founded by Balinese illustrator Monez, whose work was recently featured on the Google Doodle for the 79th Indonesian Independence Day. The exhibition title, A Studio, Reimagined, prompts Monez and Florto Studio's illustrators to once again tap into their imagination—the true fuel of creativity—as a reflection of their culture and environment. In the words of the exhibition’s curator, Wicitra Pradnyaratih, “The creation of illustrative works involves a complex process of developing a narrative; illustrations serve an essential role as companions to the narrative by visually capturing pivotal moments in the story. They breathe life into the situations, enriching the written content and visually representing the unfolding events. By stimulating the senses and fostering imagination, illustrations are the portal to a world where stories come to life. The Studio Florto team, consisting of Monez, Gusde Shidi, Ode Baskara, Yuma, and Ayu, each presents their significant perspectives through stories. Their wide-ranging exploration and skilful execution result in captivating visuals that add depth and meaning to every story they seek to share.”
Each and every illustrator taking part in A Studio, Reimagined, is bringing a slice of themselves to the table. Gusde puts Balinese illustrative aesthetics on center stage as he showcases the Indonesian folklore and Hindu epics influences in his works like Temptations of Arjuna and Mencari Lata Mahosadhi, taking inspiration from Mahabaratha and Ramayana epics while incorporating Balinese scripts as a key visual element. Likewise, Ode also took inspiration from his favorite literary sources, Ozamu Dazai’s No Longer Human. His work delves into his search for self-identity in the context of implicit societal rules—remaining authentic in the contemporary dynamic of urbanized living.
Yuma’s work depicts womanhood from a mythological lens rooted in folklore. Twisting familiar scary or mysterious tropes around women in these tales by celebrating the primal side of womanhood by embracing transformation and advocating for liberation. Ayu’s A Little Space for Spaghetti and Friends depicts our relationship with food—a need and sometimes a vice. Her illustrations balance extravagance with a sense of fatigue. Finally, Monez’s Rangkung is a human-sized masked installation. Exploring the concept of masks, Monez plays with elements of Balinese masks and modern superhero characters—depicting a tribal chief with a sacred scepter and a robe with traditional motifs of the Nyara tribe of Africa.
Florto Studio’s exhibition perfectly exhibits the connection between literature, storytelling, and technological advancements. A showcase of how one’s culture and environment continues to inform a creative's artistic output and vice versa—where artists play a crucial role in the preservation of a community’s cultural heritage. Alongside this exhibition, Florto Studio will also be holding talks with the illustrators involved, discussing the works, visual storytelling, womanhood and its relationship to illustration, and more. A Studio, Reimagined is open to the public until December 1st, 2024.
