Melati Suryodarmo and the art of frustrating futility

I used to think that Indonesian artists were only capable of creating aesthetically pleasing art. I thought we would always be the tourism capital, always creating something to please other people. It wasn’t until I studied art in earnest that I learned that there are artists out there creating works that were more than just aesthetically pleasing paintings and sculptures to be sold at auctions and galleries. There are artists like Melati Suryodarmo who create art that, at times, feels like the antithesis of beauty. I first met Melati Suryodarmo when I was studying art in Singapore. Her art practice mesmerized me. Of her body of works, none I feel is as mesmerizing as her iconic work, Exergie Butter Dance. She’s performed this work several times and due to the unpredictable nature of slipping on butter, every performance will always be unique. Nevertheless, there’s a general pattern to this work. Melati always wears a tight, black dress that blends with the background. This results in the audience focusing on her arms and legs which stands in contrast to everything else. She always wears red heels and always has red lipstick on. One can see this as Melati pinpointing femininity as a major theme in this work. <a href="https://medium.com/@hypercaring5/melati-suryodarmo-and-the-art-of-frustrating-futility-4de6c365976a">Visit Now</a>