J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra

Srisasanti Gallery is pleased to present Tears from Heaven, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra’s (b. 1984, Indonesia) first solo exhibition with the gallery. Pramuhendra maintains his position as an artist who consistently uses charcoal and canvas. It can be said that he is currently the foremost and most renowned Indonesian artist known for his charcoal-based paintings/drawings. This exhibition features 2 installations and 11 new charcoal drawings on canvas created in 2024.

Pramuhendra is interested in religious themes—especially Catholicism—where the symbolism and composition that can be found in his works often refer to the Bible or Renaissance paintings. However, he dedicates this exhibition to discuss contemporary issues around women, which are present through their figures who are the main subjects in this series of works. His current works focus on women's capacities beyond the societal roles typically imposed on them.

The title of this exhibition is taken from its central work, Tears from Heaven—an installation that presents an appropriation of Michelangelo's Pieta sculpture with artificial rain that resembles tears falling from "heaven." Tears from Heaven is located on the 1st floor of the gallery, with dramatic lighting, accompanied by the song Fall by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. On the 2nd of the gallery, Pramuhendra presents an installation in the form of large, burnt wooden beams, stacked like the remnants of a Cross. The title of this work, Calvary—refers to the name of the hill where Jesus was crucified—is a reminder of the transience of worldly existence.

As seen in the installation, the interplay of “light and dark" is the main force in Pramuhendra's charcoal paintings. In this exhibition, Pramuhendra created a painting measuring 4 x 18 meters, titled In the Quiet Night of The Grand Theater, depicting 22 women sitting behind a long dining table, much like the composition of the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. This painting is the largest the artist has ever made and the gallery has ever exhibited.