Cover Indonesian artist Adi Gunawan learned yoga when he was little
Indonesian artist Adi Gunawan learned yoga when he was little
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Indonesian artist Adi Gunawan’s upcoming solo exhibition at Ode to Art is a tribute to his Balinese heritage, his mother, and an unapologetic defiance of media-driven beauty ideals
Short, plump, curly-haired—these are the hallmarks of beauty in Indonesian artist Adi Gunawan’s world. His whimsical bronze sculptures, with their delightfully rotund figures, joyfully subvert traditional standards of female beauty.
“It’s a resistance against the media-shaped perception of beauty, especially the narrow definition that a beautiful woman must be slim-figured, straight-haired, and fair-skinned,” Adi explains. In his universe, these exuberant figures frolic with animals, strike playful yoga poses, and exude a sense of carefree joy.
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Above Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose Variation), 2022 by Adi Gunawan
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (Pigeon Pose Variation), 2022 by Adi Gunawan
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This March, Adi brings his unique vision to Singapore with Finding the Way Home, a solo exhibition at Ode to Art Gallery. Featuring 20 bronze sculptures, the exhibition draws from Adi’s childhood memories, Balinese heritage, and creative journey.
“The theme and title, Finding the Way Home, were personally chosen by Adi Gunawan,” says Kartika Usman, art consultant at Ode to Art. “It taps into a sense of nostalgia and a yearning for simplicity that urban dwellers in Singapore can relate to. His works resonate so strongly with collectors that the idea for this exhibition has been in the works for quite some time. But his artworks tend to sell quickly, leaving little opportunity for a full exhibition.”
Kartika Usman and Adi Gunawan inspecting the sculptures
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The exhibition’s title is also an expression of gratitude to his mother, Ni Made Asih, who imbued her children with a sense of culture and creativity through daily rituals. “She essentially taught us art,” Adi recalls. “How to make shapes from bamboo leaves, how to choose colours and compositions of flowers.”
Above Inside Adi Gunawan's Pecut Api studio in Yogyakarta in preparation of his Singapore solo exhibition, Finding the Way Home, at Ode to Art
Above Adi Gunawan hand-carves all the clay models of his sculptures
Above Adi Gunawan Hand-carving the clay model using simple tools before having cast into a mould
Adi Gunawan hand-carves all the clay models of his sculptures
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Although he was born Putu Adi Gunawan in Parigi, Central Sulawesi, his connection to Bali runs deep. Both his parents are Balinese, yet his family history is one of displacement.
“My great-grandfather was originally from Buleleng, but he was exiled to Banda Neira, an island in the Moluccas, by the Dutch colonisers in the 1890s, and then to Sulawesi, so he was quite divorced from the Balinese culture,” Adi shares. “Physically, I have never lived in Bali. But my mother reintroduced us to the culture through her daily rituals.”
Above Sukhasana Pose, 2023 and Vrikshasana (Tree Pose), 2023
Sukhasana Pose, 2023 and Vrikshasana (Tree Pose), 2023
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Adi’s artistic journey took him to the Indonesian Institute of Art in Yogyakarta, where he sought to explore contemporary influences beyond Bali’s traditional styles. “Balinese art was more traditional at that time, and I wanted to learn more about modern, Western-influenced art, so I went to Yogyakarta to study,” he explains.
It was there he developed his signature aesthetic, inspired by his own self-acceptance. “I asked myself, I too am short, fat, and curly, but I smiled when I saw my reflection in the mirror, so why can’t these traits bring joy, too?”
Above Adi Gunawan named his studio Pecut Api, which translates to "Fire Whip"
Adi Gunawan named his studio Pecut Api, which translates to "Fire Whip"
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Finding the Way Home will showcase 20 bronze sculptures in several themes inspired by Adi’s childhood. Asked if he has a particular method to find inspiration, he says that he doesn’t have a ritual like going to a particular place—although he does have a favorite place in town, the Plaosan temple heritage site—to find ideas. “The ideas have always been inside my head, but I need something to trigger it.”
Above Adi Gunawan at the Plaosan temple, one of his favourite places in Yogyakarta
Adi Gunawan at the Plaosan temple, one of his favourite places in Yogyakarta
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Vrikshasana (Tree Pose), 2023
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The idea for his Yoga Pose sculpture series, for example, was a resurfacing childhood memory of learning yoga poses that was triggered when he took a yoga class as an adult.
The sculptures that depict animals like pigs and horses were also inspired by his childhood, when his parents raised pigs and got around with a horse cart. Even the name of his studio, Pecut Api, which translates to “Fire Whip” in English, were inspired by the horse whip his father carried around. “So we don’t become lazy,” he quips.
Enjoy the Moment, 2024
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Adi’s choice of bronze as a medium reflects the permanence of these memories. “I choose bronze as the material for my sculptures because of its durability, both indoors and outdoors,” he notes.
For Adi, Finding the Way Home is more than an artistic showcase—it is a heartfelt tribute to his roots and his mother’s enduring influence. “She taught us art and reintroduced us to our Balinese culture,” he says. “Now that I have found my way in the art world, this exhibition is meant as a tribute to her.”
Awaken Goodness, 2019
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“Adi Gunawan’s work invites the Singapore audience to reconnect with the simple beauty of nature and reflect on the importance of slowing down, staying grounded, and appreciating the natural world,” says Usman.
“Whether displayed at home or in a personal space, we envision Adi’s pieces sparking meaningful conversations and becoming cherished topics of discussion among family, friends, and guests.”
Above Candi Plaosan exhibits both influences from Hinduism and Buddhism
Candi Plaosan exhibits both influences from Hinduism and Buddhism
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Jakarta-born, Bandung-raised and Singapore-based, Asih Jenie trained in Visual Communication Design at Bandung Institute of Technology and Architecture at Parahyangan Catholic University. She brings both rigour and heart to design journalism, infused with a distinct Southeast Asian voice.
As a child, she doodled on the edges of her schoolbooks and never outgrew her fascination with all things well-made and well-told. Her 15-year career spans editorial roles and bylines in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia, across spatial design titles such as Dwell Asia, Cubes, Design Anthology, Habitus Living, and Home & Decor.
After a brief stint in public relations, she returned to publishing in 2023 to lead Tatler Homes Singapore, where she continues to tell stories about how we shape the spaces that shape us.
