Talitha Maranila on the Journey of Self-Reflection in Her Works in EXTEND
On September 13, 2024, Sin Sin Fine Art Gallery, Hong Kong, opened their newest exhibition EXTEND. Inspired by a meeting between gallery founder and artist Sin Sin Man and participating artists Talitha Maranila and Dani Huda earlier this year, the exhibition theme of expanding possibilities refers to the growing possibilities building from the interconnectedness of the three artists’ works. Acting as EXTEND’s curator, Sin Sin Man explains that she is excited to share how young artists are embracing nature and spirituality in their lives and work. She “hopes it will inspire people who feel under pressure or lost; to guide them to find more light, more expanse, more breath.” Grafis Masa Kini had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Talitha on the process behind her works featured in EXTEND.
“It began with an unexpected meeting at the end of May in Bali with Sin Sin. That very meeting formed an instant chemistry between the three of us; me, Dani Hadi, and Sin Sin. We really synergized and were on the same frequency,” Talitha recalled. By June, Both Talitha and Davi were invited by Sin Sin to exhibit together with her at Sin Sin Fine Art. “Sin Sin was inspired by the connection between the three of us who differ in our views, our thinking, and our spirituality in this modern era. Especially as we [Talitha and Davi] are of a much younger generation,” Talitha explained.
Talitha is exhibiting four of her works as part of EXTEND. Two are sculptures titled Flames of Rose and Mirror of Being which involve playing with light. The other two are semi-painting installations titled Entanglement and Emergence in the Year of the Dragon. Talitha went on to explain that each piece has its own individual notions but share the common thread of discussing the interconnectedness of humans with the physical and the mental realm; “our consciousness as humans in the fast-paced era of technological invasion.”
On how her works respond to EXTEND’s theme of “expanding possibilities”, Talitha elaborates, “Expanding possibilities is a notion formed in the interconnectedness of all three of our works; my work, Dani’s, and Sin Sin’s all carry a similar language but differ in execution. “I responded to this concept through the interplay of light ,light is an entity that transcends both distance and time. Just as light itself travels across vast stretches of space, defying the limitations of the physical world, light embodies this boundless nature. In many cultures and philosophies, light is a symbol of knowledge, enlightenment, and the dawn of new understanding. It illuminates the path forward, shedding clarity on the unknown, just as light symbolizes the bridge between realms of thought, science, and technological advancement. In this sense, light is not only a manifestation of the physical properties of light but also a representation of the evolution of human civilization through the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of technology.”
Emergence in the Year of the Dragon in particular is a new piece by Talitha. She created this set of ceramic paint on bended plexiglass in Hong Kong. Of course, working away from familiar surroundings can come with its own set of challenges. “It’s not the first time I’ve created work abroad and I faced similar challenges; how can I create art efficiently, that doesn’t cost too much or require too much labor? Because abroad, it’s difficult to find an extra pair of hands to help out. I have to do it all myself and materials cost more [abroad] in comparison to Indonesia. These limitations become an opportunity to form new ideas,” Talitha elaborates.
EXTEND is also the first time Talitha has performed light and shadow play with Dani playing the flute live. She explained that previously, she had always performed to music that had been composed beforehand. “This time felt more organic. We had been friends for so long and this moment at EXTEND was the first time we’ve ever performed together. I was really grateful for the very enthusiastic response of the audience. Some of them said, ‘This is what we need in Hong Kong,’ and a majority of the visitors who experienced the work were also in the midst of their own journeys of self-reflection. I was glad to share this energy and feeling with them. Knowing that this journey of looking inward as a collective experience gave me a warm sentiment and this is one of the reasons why I keep doing what I do,” Talitha concluded.
