작품 상세

What does the modern hulubalang or pendekar entail in the Malay world of the 21st Century and the 3rd Millennium, with modern challenges and the computer gnomic code? Since his award-winning Bujang Berani sculpture in the 1991 Young Contemporary Artists Awards, Bayu Utomo Radjikin has inserted and projected his own persona, often singular and large and in pugilistic poses, into his repertoire. The ancient Malay martial art silat is linked to the early Malay civilisation and gains great popularity with the rise of Islam in the archipelago in the 15th century. In this Infinity Series, the warrior is depicted deep in thought and the headgear bears a patchwork of modern patterns, and more colourful. Bayu Utomo Radjikin followed up his 1991 Major Award with a Minor Award in the prestigious Salon Malaysia 1991-1992. In 2005, he won a Special Award in the One World – No War competition organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. At the Malaysian level of the Philip Morris Asean Art Awards, Bayu won Honourable Mention twice, in 1994 and 1995. Off-canvas, Bayu established the HOM Art Trans gallery for young artists and set up the Malaysian Emerging Artist Award jointly with Galeri Chandan. He also initiated art residences, the MARS (Malaysian Art Archive and Research Support) and the Art Triangle of contemporary artists from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Bayu graduated with a BFA at the Universiti ITM in 1991, but he is best known as a founding member of the cult art collective Matahati. His auction record was set at the June 2013 Auction, for RM126,500.