1 November 2008 - 31 January 2009

Beatrix Hendriani Kaswara usually works on canvas. She is an artist that chooses not to choose. This young artist from Bandung has a strong tendency to keep a distance from almost everything outside of her self. She is suspicious of the surface appearance of everything and, because of that, always tries to see what is on the other side.

"Based on my suspicion towards everything that appears to be sweet, whether food or visual appearance, I subjectively consider it all to be an illusion, not reality." (Beatrix)

Urban culture and its characteristic social life impressed Beatrix during her experience in Yogyakarta. When she arrived, she was immediately greeted by a tumult of cultural symbols visible everywhere. It was as if she was forced to experience the romance of this city. Beatrix also found several art works she considered to be imaginative and dreamlike. The anxiety that she experienced through the period of her residency stimulated her to re-examine the nature of reality and the current hyper-reality of humanity. When television has become a part of life, which one is considered reality? And, when a work is a representation of reality, which reality does the artist choose to express?

Beatrix Hendriani Kaswara, born in Bandung, 1984. Completed her studies in the Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Art and Design, Bandung Institute of Technology.

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Residency Investigation Time with Inspector D.S. (Dead Sharp)

Inspector D.S was asking Questions about artificial walls.
These walls do not represent The Revelation of the Prophet Mohammed
nor are they built to thank God for arriving home safely after the journey to
Mecca. Artificial black walls inside the house are built to attach the TV.

Inspector D.S was asking Questions about the Javanese ritual at weddings,

when women are washing the feet of men after stepping on a raw egg.
Not every body knows this ceremony and not every married man experienced
this. Most men felt regretful about this.

On the 15th of November 2008 Inspector D.S. started a very personal investigation:

washing the feet of 20 men and women while learning about there lives and livings.
Not an intellectual investigation, but a search for ways of being

that brings and gives a personal good, following footprints

and leaving footprints in search for finding the way in the dark.

I like to thank these persons for their kindness and cooperation,

helping Inspector D.S. to understand more of everyday life in Indonesia.

Elizabeth de Vaal is an artist born in the Netherlands, Rotterdam 1950. She lives and works in the Netherlands and Hungary.