Nyoman Masriadi

Masriadi was born 1973, in Gianyar, Bali. Masriadi received his training in art at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta (ISI).

In Bali, where he was born, there were two traditions of painting: a sacred one and one of words for a Western audience. However, his relationship to these is indirect. Masriadi received his training in art at the Institute Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. From the time he was an art student, he had already been recognized by peers as one of the first contemporary Balinese artists who eased himself away from an encompassing concern with Balinese life, culture and traditions in his works. He is reputed to have stood in front of the canvas on a cardboard box to restrict himself from any distractions and fidgety behavior, in order to learn the skill of painting. The imagery and narratives in his paintings are based on observations of social life and behavior. His work incorporates elements of cubism, caricature, street advertising, and graffiti. In some works, he uses a marker over finished paintings, a technique related to his engagement with artistic traditions. "Masriadi: Black Is My Last Weapon" was the artist's maiden solo show at the Singapore Art Museum which was co organised by Gajah Gallery in 2008. The exhibit spanned Masriadi's 10-year career and explored the evolution of his signature black-skinned figures, a motif now widely copied by other Indonesian painters.

• Year — Exhibition — Venue/Represented By — Country • 2011 — Nyoman Masriadi – Recent Paintings — Paul Kasmin Gallery — New York • 2011 — Nyoman Masriadi – Recent Works — Gajah Gallery — Singapore • 2008 — Black is my last Weapon — Gajah Gallery / Singapore Art Museum — Singapore

• Year — Exhibition — Venue/Represented By — Country • 2012 — India Art Fair (former India Art Summit) — Gajah Gallery — New Delhi-India • 2012 — Art Basel — - — Switzerland • 2012 — Art Stage — Gajah Gallery — Singapore • 2011 — Art Stage — Gajah Gallery — Singapore • 2010 — Art Paris + Guests — - — Paris-France • 2010 — New Directions — Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai — China • 2010 — Art Basel Miami — - — USA • 2009 — In Rainbow — Esa Sampoerna Art House — Surabaya • 2009 — Jogja Biennale X — - — Jogja-Indonesia • 2009 — The Simple Art of Parody — Museum of Contemporary Art Taipeh (MoCA Taipei) — Taipei • 2006 — Expression of an Era — Garis Art Gallery — Padma Hotel Bali • 2005 — Beauty and Terror — Galerie Loft — Paris • 2002 — Not Just Political — H. Widayat Museum — Magelang • 2002 — Terumbu Karang, Exhibition and Auction — - — Jakarta • 2002 — Group Exhibition — One Gallery — Magelang-Central Java • 2002 — Terumbu Karang, Exhibition and Auction — - — Jakarta • 2002 — Age-hibition — Edwin's Gallery — Jakarta • 2001 — Kelompok 7 — Benteng Vredeburg — Yogyakarta • 2001 — - — Museum of Modern Art — Moscow - Russia • 2000 — Seni Rupa Campur — Beeldende Kunst (CBK) — Dordrecht-Netherland • 2000 — Figur di Abad Baru — Edwin's Gallery — Jakarta • 1999 — Masa Kini — Artoteek Den Haag and Centrum Beekdende Kunst — Dordrecht-Netherlands • 1999 — Biennale VI — Purna Budaya — Yogyakarta • 1999 — Knalpot — Cemeti Art House — Yogyakarta • 1999 — Duet Exhibition with I GAK Murniasih — Cemeti Art House — Yogyakarta • 1999 — Group Exhibition with Mahendra Mangku & Nyoman Sujana — Komaneka — - • 1998 — Sanggar Dewata Indonesia Exhibition — Benteng Vredeburg — Yogyakarta • 1997 — Kelompok 7 Exhibition - Sanggar Dewata Indonesia — Bentara Budaya — Yogyakarta • 1996 — Young Artist II Exhibition — Benteng Vredeburg — Yogyakarta • 1995 — - — Dies Natalis Indonesian Art Institute — Yogyakarta • 1994 — Hitam Putih + Plus an exhibition of Kelompok Prasidha — Indonesian Art Institute — Gampingan-Yogyakarta

Sotheby's (Hong Kong): Final Price HK$7,82 million, or US$1,000,725. The sale of this work, a triptych conveying the resolve of the human spirit, marked a record for a contemporary Southeast Asian art piece at auction. It sold for about five times its estimated price.

This painstakingly rendered commentary on the art world and art practices of the 21st century sold for US$935,844 at Christie's Hong Kong as a lot in their Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art (Evening Sale) on May 25, 2013.

At Christie's first auction in Shanghai, Masriadi's mixed-media piece Fatman, was sold for US$757,547, the highest price ever paid for a similar sized work of the artist.

Sotheby's (Singapore): Final Price US$370,668. Placed into the social and political context of Masriadi's home country of Indonesia, it however simultaneously conveys a deeper story as he captures both the spirit and psyche of today's society. The emotions that are demonstrated by the football fans in the background–on the far right, anger; elsewhere, cheering supporters waving the national flag and banners carrying the words "Indonesia"–are indicative of Masriadi's cultural sensitivity and sharp humour. 'Jago Kandang' is ranked No.1 in Sotheby's Top Ten Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings according to C-Arts Asian Contemporary Arts and Culture Magazine, Vol.03 2008.

One painting by Indonesian artist Nyoman Masriadi was expected to sell for up to $25,000 (in 2007). In the end, a Southeast Asian collector paid SGD$360,000 (HK$1,854,000) for it, setting a world record price for a Masriadi painting.

Despite Masriadi's contribution to and influence on Indonesian art there has not been, until this book, much written discussion of his work. Nyoman Masriadi – Reconfiguring the Body provides a consideration of the evolution of Masriadi's art practice. Goenawan Mohamad uncovers the local complexities and richness of contemporary Indonesian society and experience.

Singapore Art Museum presented Masriadi: Black is My Last Weapon in collaboration with Gajah Gallery which featured over 30 works completed in the past decade. It was published on the occasion of the Masriadi: Black is My Last Weapon exhibition from 22 August to 9 November 2008. Presented by curators Seng Yu Jin and Wang Zineng in four thematic sections, with each theme serving as a weapon, in the sense of an apparatus for engagement, to the interior world of the artist.

A set of 15 postcards were designed as a commemorative piece for Gajah Gallery's 15th year anniversary celebration. The set is a compilation of work by Ahmad Zakii Anwar, J Ariadhitya Pramuhendra, Jumaldi Alfi, M. Irfan, Mangu Putra, Nyoman Masriadi, Teng Nee Cheong and Yunizar.

• Barnaby, Martin, "Master of his own mythology," Financial Times, 5/17/13. • Genocchio, Benjamin, "Is Jakarta the Next Art Market Capital?," Artinfo, 5/4/13. • Kinsella, Eileen, "Nyoman Masriadi's Dark Satire of Indonesian Culture Finds A Global Audience," Artinfo, 3/2/13.