Entang Wiharso b. 1967
“People expect a certain language from you, but I like contradictions.”
– Entang Wiharso
Artist Biography
Entang Wiharso (b. 1967, Tegal, Indonesia, based in Rhode Island, United States) draws on his experience living across Indonesia and America to create works that explore how constructs of unity and difference shape human experience. His multimedia practice merges diverse references from both countries—ranging from folklore and spirituality to contemporary media and national progress—to reflect our entangled existence across time and geography.
Central to Wiharso’s work is the use of human figures engaged in acts of love, conflict and terror. Rendered in an exaggerated, cartoonish manner, they are often portrayed tenuously connected to each other by cords fashioned as vegetation, cables and organs. This is demonstrated in his Comic Book series and Geo-Portrait series, begun in the 2000s and 2010s respectively. Temple of Hope: Door to Nirvana (2018) is a monumental installation made out of intricate, laser-cut steel reliefs, an approach referencing ancient temple adornments for which the artist is renowned. Dramatically lit from within, visitors are greeted by mythical creatures, pop culture symbols, natural motifs and excerpts from personal conversations. The interconnected visual webs reflect on the growing intolerance towards political, racial and religious difference in an increasingly globalised world.
Wiharso obtained his BFA in Painting from the Indonesia Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta in 1994. His work is held in collections including National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta; Jeonbuk Museum; Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg; Mead Art Museum, Amherst; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, Jakarta; National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; National Gallery of Singapore; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; RISD Museum, Providence; Singapore Art Museum; and Yunnan Art Museum.
Notable recent exhibitions include Symphony of Coexistence (2024), Art Museum of Sichuan Fine Art Institute, Chongqing; Bridging the Boundaries (2024), Yuan Art Museum, Beijing; Art and Design from 1900 to Now (2023), RISD Museum, Providence; When the Skies are Falling (2022), Asia Center, Harvard University; Oil (2022), Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg; Meta Landscape (2022), Jamestown Art Center; Meanders in the Tropics (2021), Tsinghua University Art Museum, Beijing; Contemporary Worlds (2019), National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Death is Irrelevant (2018), Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, Peekskill; and Pathos of the Fringes (2018), Jeonbuk Museum. The artist has also participated in major international festivals including Butterflies Frolicking on the Mud (2021), 2nd Thailand Biennale, Korat; Flowing Refuses to Stop (2021), Yeosu International Art Festival; Prospect 3 (2014), 3rd New Orleans Biennale; Encyclopedic Palace (2013), 55th Venice Biennale; 6th Prague Biennale (2013); And_Writers (2010), 1st Nan Jing Biennale; Viewing and Viewing Points (2009), 2nd Asian Art Biennale, Taichung; Jogja Jamming (2009), 10th Jogja Biennale, Yogyakarta; The Experience of Art (2005), 51st Venice Biennale; and Earthwise (2005), 2nd Beijing Biennale.
Wiharso had his residency at the STPI Workshop in 2014, resulting in the exhibition Never Say No (2015).