Taking traditional elements, myths and iconography from ancient Balinese culture and literature, Sasmita departs from convention and traces the marginalised narrative of women in Balinese society.
Citra Sasmita (b. 1990, Bali, Indonesia) focuses on unravelling the myths and misconceptions of Balinese art and culture. She is also deeply invested in questioning a woman’s place in the social hierarchy and seeks to upend the normative construct of gender. In her practice, she revisits ancient Balinese mythologies and retools traditional artistic techniques and materials to address misconceptions that persist in contemporary society. Using the vibrant and thriving genealogy of Balinese traditional painting, Kamasan, her works often reimagines an empowered mythology of womanhood.
Sasmita will be included in the forthcoming 35th São Paolo Biennale: ‘Choreographies of the Impossible’ (2023), 3rd Thailand Biennale: ‘The Open World’, Chiangrai (2023), the 24th Biennale of Sydney (2024) and Perforated Sovereignty, SECCA BEGA, New South Wales, Australia (2023). Selected exhibitions include: Kathmandu Triennale, Patan Museum, Kathmandu (2022); Garden of the Six Seasons, ParaSite, Hong Kong (2020); and Jogja Biennale, Yogyakarta (2019). She was also Artist-in-Residence at WIELS Brussels in 2022 under the inaugural Studio Residencies for Southeast Asian Artist by NTU CCA Singapore in the EU.