Wenski

Wenski is a Yogyakarta-based visual artist from Indonesia who works consistently on visualizing behaviour and symbols that commonly existed in his surroundings, especially in his homeland. He graduated from Indonesian Institute of The arts Yogyakarta, majoring in Interior Design in 2017. His inspirations are manifested from Javanese folklore, Javanese puppet figures, and Native Javanese habits which harmonized with contemporary reality. In 2019 he was invited to talk at Magani Arkadia Communal Space and work on project collaborations with 100ribu Record Label in Bandung as well as Tame Made in Yogyakarta. Early 2020 his work was showcased at Keep The Fire On #6 Exhibition at Survive Garage in Yogyakarta.

Kuluk & Selop (Man Crown & Shoe)

Kuluk & Selop are two sacred pieces of accoutrements worn by the married couple and their family in the Javanese marriage ceremony. Kuluk Symbolises the newlywed legality and prosperity while Selop represents the newlywed readiness to step into the future. My parents are the second generation who have inherited a manufacturing business for Kuluk and Selop running for over 50 years now. Sling with the modernization of Java, the wedding ceremony ritual has changed and these two sacred accoutrements are rarely used. The market for this business is getting smaller in opportunity, moreover today, the pandemic has squeezed the continuity of our family businesses. However, despite the situation, my parents persevere in running the business. They were driven by their attachment to the traditional moral and values of these businesses and its meaning. Being a part of this complexities, I constantly tried to reflect and collaborate with my parents in finding the catharsis that we tried to convey in this artwork.

Along with my parents, I created this work as a form of hope in the midst of this unsettling time. I hold onto a belief that even if we are in the middle of this pandemic which causes distance, this artwork’s reflection and movement are able to outwit the ongoing boundaries, maintaining our connections, and manifesting the unity we have dreamt of.

Text on the Kuluk Crown: Kula Nyuwun Kawelasan (I seek for your mercy)
Text on the Selop on the left: Berkah Dalem (God Bless You)
Text on the Selop on the right: Welas Asih (Mercy)
Texts on the illustration (clockwise from the top left corner):
- Rahayu (Peace and Prosperity)
- Berkah Dalem (God Bless You)
- Ingkang Maha Sae Lan Welas Asih Kersa Tansah Berkahi Pakaryan Kawula Menika (For the Almighty and Merciful, who bless our work)
- Mugi Tansah Kaparingan Kesarasan Kaluwarga Kawula (We hope, health will always be given to our family)
- Mugi Enggal Sirna Kawontenan Pagebluk Menika (We hope , the plague will soon pass)