Astari Rasjid (B. 1953)

Astari Rasjid is one of the most prominent contemporary Indonesian artists, recently participating in the 55th Venice Biennale 2013. She has studied painting at the University of Minnesota, USA and at the Royal College of Art, London. Rasjid's art is rooted in Indonesia's traditional and social concerns, specifically cultural gender issues that deal with tradition versus modernity. Through layers of narratives the artist brings to the surface women's issues which are based on her own personal experiences and the experiences of women around her in the Indonesian culture; she questions, teases and challenges some of the concerns of Indonesian women. This idea is clearly demonstrated in 50 Years Barbie Lethal Venture (Lot 589).