Olga Rindang Amesti

(she/her)
b 1994 Surakarta, Indonesia
Lives and works in Surakarta, Indonesia

Born just four years before the collapse of the authoritarian New Order regime, Olga Rindang Amesti grew up during a time of political transition and turbulence. As Indonesia entered a period of democratisation, new legislation removed previous limits on the number of political parties, leading to a proliferation of parties in the 2000s. In Mind and Boxes, Amesti turns a critical eye to this contemporary political landscape. Several dusty wooden crates hang on the wall, while others lie in disarray on the floor. A flimsy ladder to the right-hand side is suggestive of the high barriers of entry to the upper echelons of Indonesia’s political hierarchy. Meanwhile, the contents of the crates are revealed to contain colourful assortments of plushies—potential figures of power. The largest of the dolls reclines on the floor, the word ‘think’ written on its leg. Playfully deceptive in its assemblage of objects that blur the boundaries between trash and treasure, the precious and the paltry, Amesti’s work urges viewers to think critically in response to a political system still plagued by widespread networks of patronage and clientelism, the lingering influence of wealthy business elites and the prevalence of collusive, cartel parties.

Mind and Boxes 2014
mixed media
dimensions variable