Mulyana (Indonesia): Remembering Our Collective Future: Essay by John Silvis, curator

The use of recyclable plastic packaging underscores Mulyana’s commitment to sustainability, transforming disposable materials into objects of beauty and significance. This act of repurposing speaks to the broader theme of transformation—how memories and past experiences can inspire new beginnings and a reimagined world that is whole and sustainable. His intricate depictions of coral and sea creatures celebrate marine life and issue a call to action, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms and the urgent need to protect our environment.

Mulyana’s coral reef islands are meticulously crafted by hand, with each piece painstakingly crocheted from strands of recyclable plastic, creating stunning representations of marine biodiversity. His installations transform the gallery into an immersive, underwater landscape, engaging viewers on a visceral and emotional level. The collaborative nature of his studio practice, which depends on teamwork to realize a shared vision, mirrors the collective effort required to safeguard our environment.

On a macro level, Mulyana’s profound concern for the eroding environment and our collective lack of care for the natural world, parallels the importance of self-care on a micro level. His message encourages a holistic path to self-preservation amidst a chaotic and uncertain post-pandemic world. While Mulyana does not overtly reference gender and sexuality in his intricate installations, the diversity of his colorful environments and spectacular costumes allude to the fluidity of human identity. His commitment to promoting shared values emanates from his spiritual understanding of human dignity, an outlook that honors the totality of creation. By constructing elaborate, magical worlds, Mulyana hopes to ignite our collective imagination to cherish creation and reveal the beauty inside each of us. 

John Silvis is a New York-based curator and art advisor. Silvis’ recent client research has taken him to Berlin, Indonesia and Vietnam. In addition to curating contemporary in New York and Los Angeles, he writes for Artsy, CNN and PARNASS. Recent curatorial projects include Season 3 at the Orange County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, Twinkle at Barney Savage, New York and Define Gravity: Sculpture in the Ahmanson Collection, Irvine, California. As an advisor, his expertise is on working with dynamic collections to expand their public presence.