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P. 89
Explore | Interview 87
EKO NUGROHO
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Interview by Adeste Adipriyanti
Photography by Dwi Oblo
commentary on society, the economy,
government, politics and so much more.
It has a life of its own. As long as we can
appreciate art, it means we can appreciate
life,” explains 40-year-old Eko.
Often the stereotype given to artists is that
they are solitary creatures who tend to work
alone. For Eko herein lies the uniqueness of
the artist. “I think being an artist is special,
because to create something, you need an
intimate space of contemplation, and plenty
of personal space as well. Creation is a
processing of taste, thoughts and ideas that
cannot be combined with many things, let
alone many people or a lot of thoughts.”
Eko chooses to define himself as a person
who creates art, but as an active member in
the communal way of village life. “It is life
in this village that educates me to develop
a very social and communicative system,”
he explains. When he is not painting, Eko has been interested in developing education for
he spends time cycling around villages.
“I love to explore and to immerse myself art in the last decade, especially early art education.
in traditional art forms. Getting out of the But it wasn’t until 2015 that he managed to establish
house and enjoying what’s outside, to
socialise, to meet people and visit old the Eko Nugroho Art Class.
friends,” adds Eko, who has just built
his own studio.
Eko has been interested in developing the art itself,” he explains. “Actually, if we the Saketi–Bayah.” Other projects he is
education for art in the last decade, especially can develop and cultivate this, the child working on include an environmental-based
early art education. But it wasn’t until 2015 will not only grow to be a creative piece, which utilises litter left behind
that he managed to establish the Eko individual, but they can also be open, on the beaches of Bali.
Nugroho Art Class, an educational centre smart and courageous.”
for developing artistic creativity, focusing The spirit of work never seems to
on children aged 3–12 years old, because it Eko has several works in progress. Some recede with Eko, and while he certainly
is in this age range that kids still greatly of them are projects for the Okunoto is busy, he continues to look ahead.
value playing and seeing the world Triennale in Suzu city, Japan. This project “There are still many other ideas in my
through imaginative eyes. is part of the first Triennale that will be held head, and I thank all the teams who have
in the city. His challenge is to respond to realised the projects born from my previous
“Spaces like this are rarely accessible to a station whose train track is no longer ideas. And with a lot of involvement
children in regular schools. We also provide in use. “I’m combining it with the memory with young people, I gain such
workshops for school teachers. We give an of a train track that was made by positive energy from the younger
overview of the dynamics of art and focus on the Japanese in Indonesia, namely generation,” he adds.
EKO NUGROHO
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Interview by Adeste Adipriyanti
Photography by Dwi Oblo
commentary on society, the economy,
government, politics and so much more.
It has a life of its own. As long as we can
appreciate art, it means we can appreciate
life,” explains 40-year-old Eko.
Often the stereotype given to artists is that
they are solitary creatures who tend to work
alone. For Eko herein lies the uniqueness of
the artist. “I think being an artist is special,
because to create something, you need an
intimate space of contemplation, and plenty
of personal space as well. Creation is a
processing of taste, thoughts and ideas that
cannot be combined with many things, let
alone many people or a lot of thoughts.”
Eko chooses to define himself as a person
who creates art, but as an active member in
the communal way of village life. “It is life
in this village that educates me to develop
a very social and communicative system,”
he explains. When he is not painting, Eko has been interested in developing education for
he spends time cycling around villages.
“I love to explore and to immerse myself art in the last decade, especially early art education.
in traditional art forms. Getting out of the But it wasn’t until 2015 that he managed to establish
house and enjoying what’s outside, to
socialise, to meet people and visit old the Eko Nugroho Art Class.
friends,” adds Eko, who has just built
his own studio.
Eko has been interested in developing the art itself,” he explains. “Actually, if we the Saketi–Bayah.” Other projects he is
education for art in the last decade, especially can develop and cultivate this, the child working on include an environmental-based
early art education. But it wasn’t until 2015 will not only grow to be a creative piece, which utilises litter left behind
that he managed to establish the Eko individual, but they can also be open, on the beaches of Bali.
Nugroho Art Class, an educational centre smart and courageous.”
for developing artistic creativity, focusing The spirit of work never seems to
on children aged 3–12 years old, because it Eko has several works in progress. Some recede with Eko, and while he certainly
is in this age range that kids still greatly of them are projects for the Okunoto is busy, he continues to look ahead.
value playing and seeing the world Triennale in Suzu city, Japan. This project “There are still many other ideas in my
through imaginative eyes. is part of the first Triennale that will be held head, and I thank all the teams who have
in the city. His challenge is to respond to realised the projects born from my previous
“Spaces like this are rarely accessible to a station whose train track is no longer ideas. And with a lot of involvement
children in regular schools. We also provide in use. “I’m combining it with the memory with young people, I gain such
workshops for school teachers. We give an of a train track that was made by positive energy from the younger
overview of the dynamics of art and focus on the Japanese in Indonesia, namely generation,” he adds.
