UJI HANDOKO

A graduate from the graphic arts department of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI), Uji Handoko (Hahan) is amongst the few 'emerging' artists from his generation. Bored of the usual exhibitions dominated by traditional wall-hung canvases, he strives to break free from these supposed limitations through his extensive range of medium, ranging from wood boards, resin, and now, a fully-functioning SMEG refrigerator. With his quirky sense of style and pop art influences, he has turned the everyday object into a character of his own. From the bold lines that mark out its features, to the vibrant red that dominates its surface, the creature seems almost alive. Beads of perspiration are visible as the creature appears to be struggling to hold in the food, while still shoving down "Art for Survival". His blatantly commercial style challenges all conventional notions of fine art, all the more so with his play on materials.