Tisna Sanjaya

Born in 1958, in Bandung, Indonesia, currently lives and works in West Java, Indonesia. Tisna Sanjaya is a key figure in many discussions about Indonesian contemporary art and its development. For his works often contained sharp criticism towards social lameness and politics in Indonesia, especially during the period of Soeharto.

His dense, hyperactive etchings and lithographs draw together images from traditional Sundanese theatre and western art history to portray the contemporary drama of his Indonesia, through his experience as an art director for a number of theatre performances. Tisna is also a “happening” artist and create extremely intensive performance art, including planning Melinjo trees in many part of Java, placing sublime notices such as “Trees don’t grow up in a hurry”.


Education and background
1998   Meisterschueler, DAAD fellowship, HBK Braunschweig, Germany
1994   Diplom Freie Kunsthochschule fuer Bildende Kuenste, Braunschweig, Germany
1986   Bandung Technology Institute
1979   IKIP Bandung


Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007   Sunset in Cigondewah, Gedung YPK, Bandung, Indonesia
2004   Etching, Painting & Installation, Bentara Budaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
2003   Special Prayer for The Death, Lontar gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2000   Art & Football for Peace, Pasar Seni ITB Bandung & Cemeti gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
1999   Thinking with Knees, YPK Gallery & CCF Bandung, Indonesia
1996   Installation of Growth, Bandung, Indonesia
1993   Bruecke Gallery, Braunschweig, Germany
1991   Goethe Institute, Goettingen, Germany
1988   Soemardja Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia
1982   Drawing exhibition on Cikapundung Street, Bandung, Indonesia


Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 
Tribes, Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong
Indonesian Invasion, Sin Sin Fine Art, Hong Kong

2007 
Ke'ruh, Gedung YPK, Bandung, Indonesia
Imagine Affandi, Gallery Semarang, Indonesia
Demi Waktu, V-Art Gallery, Jogjakarta, Indonesia

2006 
World Trade Center, Beijing, China
Artnivora Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia

2005 
Things Urbanization, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia

2004 
Gwangju Biennale, Korea

2003 
Venice Biennale, Venezia, Italy

2002 
Wild Imagination, Langgeng Gallery, Magelang, Indonesia
Offside, Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art, Japan

2001 
Reading the Frida Kahlo, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Via Printmaking, Soemardja Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia

1999 
Against Impunity, Amsterdam, Holland

1998 
Dialogue, Art2 Gallery, Singapore
Urbanization, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore & Malaysia

1997 
4th Sapporo International Print Biennale Exhibition, Sapporo, Japan

1995 
Cheju Pre-Biennale, South Korea

1993 
Asian International Art Exhibition, Fukuoka, Tagawa, Japan

1990 
Tradition - The Source Inspiration, Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan

1985 
Asean Youth Painting Workshop, Yogyakarta, Indonesia


Selected Performance Art
2005 
Claim assembly process about works burning case by Police local government corps due to regard as rubish.

2004 
Walking, interviewing with citizenry of  Dago and Lembang districts  above Performance Art and research in northern Bandung violence; in the name of  “Bandung development”.

2001 
"Grinding the Jengkol for painting Pasteur street; response for cutting the trees by Bandung local government.

2000 
"Praying for the Earth" with Padepokan Lemah Putih at Tejakula Bali and Rumah Nusantara Gallery Bandung.

1996 
"I am Football player and the Korpri Man" Asian Moderism, Asia Centre Tokyo, Japan.
"99 Magohany and Melinjo trees", in Bandung,Solo and Surabaya with Jeprut Bandung’s artists.


Selected Awards
2006   Approve Art Awards 2006 from West Java governor as the best artist.
1997   International Print Competition, Sapporo, Japan
           The Best Painter at Phillip Morris Indonesia Art Awards
1996   The Best Ten Painter of Indonesia Art Awards