>> Catalogue

This signifies Citra Sasmita's debut in embroidery, showcasing her distinctive designs and crafted by the Jembarana community, rooted in a profound Hindu tradition. Executed by elders, this practice aims to revive unconscious memories through a ritualistic approach. Citra provides sketches to embroiderers who infuse them with colors from their memories. The embroidery occurs in a historically significant location, the first Muslim village, seamlessly integrating Muslim and Hindu influences from the Dutch era. The fusion of materials, notably the appealing shoelace, adds a unique dimension. Titled "Realm of Nothingness," the piece conveys spiritual depth through the prominent use of yellow, signifying profound significance. The depicted images serve as medicinal visuals, with leaves evoking a sense of ginseng. Amidst modernizing Bali, hand embroidery is becoming scarce. Citra Sasmita's contemporary art revitalizes this dwindling craft, breathing new life into the traditional skills of the Jembarana community. Notably, she weaves historical anecdotes into her contemporary pieces, aiming to reignite interest in Balinese history. This fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern storytelling adds a fresh and nurturing perspective, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage amidst evolving times.

CITRA SASMITA (b. 1990, 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 social hierarchy and seeks to upend normative constructs of gender by reimagining mythical and classical narratives of war and romance to exalt female resistance instead. Her practice reflects the complexity between the Anthropocene, post-human, and feminism while simultaneously repositioning women within the historical canon – an action that is necessarily urgent in her Balinese environment. Her current and upcoming exhibitions include 35th São Paolo Biennale: ‘Choreographies of the Impossible’ (6 Sep - 10 Dec 2023), 3rd Thailand Biennale: ‘The Open World’, Chiangrai (9 Dec 2023 - 30 Apr 2024), Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale: 'After Rain' (20 Feb - 24 May 2024), the 24th Biennale of Sydney: 'Ten Thousand Suns' (9 Mar - 10 Jun 2024), Toronto Biennial of Art (21 Sep - 1 Dec 2024).