Erianto

(b. 1985, Indonesian)

Erianto is an Indonesian artist based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He was born and raised in Padang, West Sumatra. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Padang, he realized that living in a much rural area does not aid his artistic career nor make his art flourish. In 2010, he decided to move to Yogyakarta, Central Java, and further pursue his postgraduate studies at the Indonesia Art Institute of Yogyakarta, earning his Master of Arts degree.

Erianto believes that experience is the starting point of his artistic process. Reflecting on his experiences allows him to understand and be more aware of the world, such as the environment, social, and political situation. Even the smallest, most trivial things become the inspiration that he later pours out in the form of artworks, his preferred medium for expression. Erianto’s works erase the boundaries between what defines an object as two-dimensional (painting) or three-dimensional (object). His trompe l’oeil paintings serve as an optical illusion that contains a more profound, more personal connotation relating to his narration, response to social issues, and issues he encountered as an artist.

Erianto actively participates in group exhibitions since 2003 across Indonesia, U.S.A., Europe, and other Asian countries such as Indonesia Connecting the World (spring meeting IMF-WBG), Headquarters World Bank, Washington DC, U.S.A. (2018). He held several solo exhibitions since 2011, including Artificially in Order at Element Art Space, Singapore (2018), and HANDLE WITH CARE! The image & the mind in Erianto’s paintings at D Gallerie, Jakarta, Indonesia (2015). In 2011, he participated in an artist residency program for three months at Passau city, Germany. He received his first major recognition as an artist in 2004. From then, he received many awards including finalist for the UOB Painting of the Year in 2018, 2015 and 2011; nomination for the Sovereign Art Prize in 2020 and 2014; The Best Three Artwork for the Bakaba #4 Randang dan Rendang awards at Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta (2015); The Best Three Artwork for the Bandung Contemporary Art Awards (2011); Finalist of Jakarta Art Awards Reflection of Megacities (2010); Finalist of 100th Anniversary of Kebangkitan Nasional visual art exhibition at Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta (2008) and many more.