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Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam (Indonesia)
"Their international exhibition record and representation in major collections is a testimony to the standing of Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam, as being among the most significant textiles practitioners of our time." – James Bennett, Curator of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of South Australia."
Indonesia contemporary batik artists Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam are an outstanding husband and wife collaboration known for their attention to tradition in Javanese textile art. Also known as ISNIA, the two have received critical acclaim and recognition for their intricate, nuanced and time-intensive contemporary fine art textiles, which have been featured extensively at prominent exhibitions around the world.
Originally trained in industrial management in Yogyakarta city, Ismoyo belongs to a rich heritage of batik makers who produced for the royal court of Solo in Java. His wife, Fliam, was born and raised in the US and had studied African and Asian dye-resist techniques at New York's prestigious Pratt Institute before moving to Indonesia in 1983 to study the art.
Their creative philosophy stands out as a pursuit of value, role and meaning of tradition in shifting global cultures. This commitment to preserving ancient textile techniques shows power and depth in their artistic process.
The couple's studio, Brahma Tirta Sari (BTS), which translates to ‘creativity is the source of all knowledge', was founded in 1985 on the belief that tradition still plays a relevant role that is rooted in all cultures throughout the world. Cross-cultural collaboration is a critical and enriching aspect of the BTS creative process.
Read our Exclusive Q&A with Agus Ismoyo!
Read our Exclusive Q&A with Nia Fliam!
IN CONVERSATION WITH Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam (Indonesia)
The Empu – A Creative Path
The multi-layered and detailed works of art produced by Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam, and their Brahma Tirta Sari (BTS), are labour intensive and complex. Behind this is a creative process that is very ancient and found throughout Indonesia and Asia, called "the path of the empu" in Java. "Empu" is a term used to designate a master who is not only skilled in some art form but also capable of creating artworks which function in a multi-dimensional manner. Ismoyo and Fliam will elaborate on this ancient creative process and discuss its relationship to their own work.
2 Jun 2102, Sat, 2pm (1hr)
Esplanade Recital Studio
