- Full Name
- I Made Mahendra Mangku
- Pen Name
- Mangku
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- Indonesian Luxury
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- Sukawati
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Biography
In English
As an artist who grew up in Sanggar Dewata Indonesia (SDI), his work tends to be different from those of the Eleven Group; a group of eleven members from SDI's 90s generation. He doesn't fill his canvases with brushstrokes of paint, nor does the boisterous Balinese icons and symbols appear absent in Mangku's work.
In his paintings, Mangku tends to use one color as a base and then fill it with several colors and lines. Sometimes he also crashes contrasting colors with certain compositions that are still calming.
It presents a silence that feels sentimental, like spaces of contemplation in the midst of worldly life. No matter how dark the colors he uses, Mangku's works are still sweet, calming and meditative, and he is often referred to as the “Poetic Painter”.
Although now known for his abstract works, Mangku had time to explore in a realist and figurative style while still in college. Even in his first year at ISI, he has won two awards at once for best sketch and best watercolor painting.
Meanwhile, while attending SMSR Denpasar, he was more focused on watercolor with the splash technique which earned him the nickname Mangku (a priest in Balinese tradition who sprinkles holy water when giving blessings, ed.). His choice to pursue abstract began in 1993, because abstracts provide more space for improvisation and exploration.
Since graduating from ISI Yogyakarta, Mangku has returned to Sukawati and is actively working in his personal studio, De'carik Art Studio. He recently exhibited 15 paintings and watercolors at the Singapore International Artist Fair (SIAF) 2018 on 10-13 May in Suntec City, Singapore. It is planned that Mangku will hold a solo exhibition in August 2018 at Art:1 Gallery, Jakarta and Komaneka Art Gallery, Ubud.
Born in Sukawati, 30 December 1972
Education 1988-1992 SMSR Denpasar 1992-1997 ISI Yogyakarta
Awards:
1998 Award from the Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia; 1997 Best Painting Dies Natalis ISI Yogyakarta; 1996 Finalist Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award 1992 Best Watercolor Painting ISI Yogyakarta; 1992 Best Sketch ISI Yogyakarta
Milestones:
1992 In his first year of college, Mangku received two awards for the best watercolor painting and the best sketch at ISI Yogyakarta 1998 Graduated from college, Mangku returned and settled in Bali. This year he also held a duet exhibition with Toris Mahendra at Sika Gallery. 2000 His first solo exhibition Between Two Side, Arisma Gallery, Ubud.
2018 Singapore International Artist Fair (SIAF), Suntec City, Singapore.In Balinese
In Indonesian
Sebagai seniman yang tumbuh di tubuh Sanggar Dewata Indonesia (SDI), karyanya cenderung berbeda dibanding dengan rekan-rekan Kelompok Sebelas; kelompok yang berisi sebelas anggota dari generasi 90-an SDI. Ia tidak memenuhi kanvasnya dengan sapuan cat yang bertubi-tubi, begitupun dengan ikon-ikon dan simbol Bali yang riuh, tampak absen di karya Mangku.
Dalam lukisannya, Mangku cenderung menggunakan satu warna sebagai dasar lalu mengisinya dengan beberapa warna dan garis. Kadang ia juga menabrakkan warna-warna yang kontras dengan komposisi tertentu yang tetap menenangkan.
Ia menghadirkan keheningan yang terasa sentimental, bak ruang-ruang kontemplasi di tengah kehidupan duniawi. Segelap apapun warna yang digunakannya, karya-karya Mangku tetaplah manis, menenangkan dan meditatif, bahkan ia sering disebut sebagai “Pelukis Puitis”.
Meski kini dikenal lewat karya abstraknya, Mangku sempat bereksplorasi dengan gaya realis dan figuratif saat masih di bangku kuliah. Bahkan di tahun pertamanya di ISI, ia sudah mendapat dua penghargaan sekaligus untuk sketsa terbaik dan lukisan cat air terbaik.
Sedangkan saat bersekolah di SMSR Denpasar, ia lebih menekuni medium cat air dengan teknik percik yang membuatnya dipanggil Mangku (pendeta dalam adat Bali yang memercikkan air suci saat memberi berkat, red.). Pilihannya untuk menekuni abstrak dimulai sejak 1993, karena abstrak lebih memberi ruang untuk improvisasi dan eksplorasi.
Sejak lulus dari ISI Yogyakarta, Mangku kembali ke Sukawati dan aktif berkarya di studio pribadinya, De’carik Art Studio. Ia baru saja memamerkan 15 karya lukis dan cat air di Singapore International Artist Fair (SIAF) 2018 pada 10-13 Mei di Suntec City, Singapura. Rencananya, Mangku akan menyelenggarakan pameran tunggal pada Agustus 2018 di Art:1 Gallery, Jakarta dan Komaneka Art Gallery, Ubud.
Lahir di Sukawati, Bali, 30 Desember 1972
Pendidikan:
1988-1992 SMSR Denpasar
1992-1997 ISI Yogyakarta
Penghargaan:
1998 Penghargaan dari Menteri Seni dan Budaya Republik Indonesia1997 Karya Lukis Terbaik Dies Natalis ISI Yogyakarta1996 Finalis Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award1992 Lukisan Cat Air Terbaik ISI Yogyakarta1992 Sketsa Terbaik ISI Yogyakarta
Milestone:
1992 Pada tahun pertamanya kuliah, Mangku menerima dua penghargaan sekaligus untuk lukisan cat air terbaik dan sketsa terbaik ISI Yogyakarta
1998 Lulus kuliah, Mangku kembali dan menetap di Bali. Di tahun ini pula ia menggelar pameran duet dengan Toris Mahendra di Sika Gallery.
2000 Pameran tunggal pertamanya Between Two Side, Arisma Gallery, Ubud, Bali.
Pameran Penting:
Pameran I Made Mahendra “Mangku” dan Made Toris Mahendra, Sika Gallery, 1998.Pameran Tunggal Pertama: Between Two Side, Arisma Gallery, Ubud, Bali, 2000.Pameran Terakhir: Singapore International Artist Fair (SIAF), Suntec City, Singapura, 2018
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