Agus Suwage

For his King and Queen Jeff Koons diptych, 2008, Agus Suwage combines two opposing elements: a human skull and Mickey Mouse. Suwage draws from the duality suggested by the Latin sentence “Ars longa, vita brevis” (or “art is long, life is short”), while referring to pop culture, its idols and symbols. The work is part of “Inanimate Performance,” a series based on the artworks of international art icons. Born in Indonesia, Agus Suwage studied graphic design at the Institut Teknologi Bandung. A clever observer of events, he has often used self-portraits to express conflicting individual and communal values, as well as feelings such as anxiety and fear. The gaps between classes, corruption and consumerism have been strong sources of inspiration. His most recent works were shown at the Jogja National Museum in Yogykarta and Nadi Gallery in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Gallery Avanthay Contemporary in Zurich.