The Back Room is pleased to present our upcoming exhibition, Siklus, a solo exhibition by Octo Cornelius. A visual artist and woodworker based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Octo is known for his assemblages of wood, stone, and other found materials from his everyday surroundings. Siklus presents a number of small assemblages and sculptures created by Octo in his first solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.
The exhibition is curated by Nala Nandana (Bandung, ID) who has chosen the title Siklus (or “cycles”) in reference to ideas of repetition, patterns, and flows. The concept of siklus reflects the nature of various phenomena in the universe, in which things tend to experience cyclical patterns of change and recurrence over time.
Octo works using found objects that have gone through various types of processing (such as being used previously as furniture or decoration) before they wind up in his hands to be transformed into an artwork. Octo's ideas attempt to provide a narrative for forgotten or overlooked materials, believing that they possess a compelling story and unexpected potential. Through stories of the past retold and dreams of the future realised, the found object can become a symbol of eternity and continued life. A once dead place now resonates with new life, proving that it is possible to rebuild and start again.
This exhibition is made possible with the support of Incopro, The Mogus, PNB Merdeka Ventures, and Think City.
Exhibition dates: 6 – 28 April 2024
Opening reception: Saturday, 6 April from 5 pm onwards
Talks
Artist talk with Octo Cornelius
6 April, 11 am – 12 pm
Malaysia Design Archive, 84B The Zhongshan Building
A case study of 10 years of creative interventions in the Bandung art scene
A talk by Nala Nandana
6 April, 3 pm – 4 pm
Malaysia Design Archive, 84B The Zhongshan Building
About the Artist
Octo Cornelius (b. 1981, Rembang, Indonesia) is a visual artist currently based in Yogyakarta. He was educated at the Institut Seni Yogyakarta (ISI). Octo has had solo exhibitions in Indonesia and Singapore, including "Mengukur Ulang" at C On Temporary, Bandung (2023), "Langkah Tak Berhenti" at Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta (2020), and "Unpredictable Scenes" at Jogja Contemporary, Yogyakarta (2017). He has participated in group exhibitions and art fairs around the world, including at Para Site Hong Kong, Cemeti - Institute for Art and Society, Art Jakarta, Indonesian Contemporary Art & Design (ICAD), and more. He was previously also an active maker and performer with Papermoon Puppet Theatre.
About the Curator
Nala Nandana (b. 1985, Bandung) is a lecturer in the Department of Film and Television, Faculty of Arts and Design Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in Bandung and a curator for several art exhibitions and film festivals. Nala is also active in conducting research into cultural studies and new media in various artistic practices.
Installation shots
