Arkiv, Mickiv, and Childhood Memories

Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung, proudly presents Metaphor of Memories, a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Arkiv Vilmansa. Curated by Asmudjo J Irianto and Rizki A Zaelani, Metaphor of Memories is open to the public today (23/08). The exhibition’s focus on Arkiv’s main character ‘Mickiv’, marks a significant milestone in Arkiv’s artistic career and aesthetic exploration.

‘Mickiv’, both in its name and its appearance, plays off one of the most recognizable cartoon characters of our time—Mickey Mouse. The name is a portmanteau of ‘Mickey’ and his own name ‘Arkiv’. “Mickey (Mickey Mouse) was my idol as a child, he [was] a friend and a hero who accompanied me to play: to fantasize, to create a world, even another realm that is fun,” Arkiv explained in a press statement. Born in 2007, ‘Mickiv’ takes center stage as a metaphor for the sensations evoked by Arkiv’s childhood memories and future memories. The exhibition presents a recollection and study of the journey that Arkiv and ‘Mickiv’ have taken together.

With two different curators at the helm, Asmudjo and Rizki, Metaphor of Memories delves into two different interpretations of Arkiv’s work. Asmudjo largely focuses on the discourse around the understanding of western art and its influence on Indonesian contemporary art. Meanwhile, Rizki, through his curatorial essay,  examined the patterns and methods behind Arkiv’s work and its relation to Mickiv. On a broader scope, Metaphor of Memories also aims to reframe the way in which we view contemporary art in Indonesia, with the exhibition title also serving as a guiding compass behind the interpretation of the artworks displayed.

Metaphor of Memories is open to the public today, Friday (23/08) until October 27, 2024, at Selasar Paviliun, Bandung.

foto:abc