REDBASE proudly presents Embodied: Perception of Objects, a solo exhibition by Joko Avianto, in which bamboo emerges as a versatile medium for sculptural exploration. This collection investigates the duality of strength and flexibility inherent in bamboo, transforming familiar forms and everyday objects into evocative artworks that challenge perception.

Embodied: Perception of Objects presents a variety of sculptural forms, including a bamboo paper bag, an imprint of Java Island formed through draped bamboo, and a monumental wall slate featuring intricate bamboo grain and decorative black-and-white patterns. Each work is imbued with a sense of organic movement and texture, while resin reinforcement provides structural integrity that contrasts with and conceals its natural origins.

Central to Avianto’s artistic vision is a critique of environmental exploitation and an exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature. Through his use of bamboo — a lightweight and sustainable material — he highlights the urgency of environmental awareness while celebrating its aesthetic and expressive potential. Avianto’s artistic practice transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, reinterpreting everyday objects with both beauty and irony. His works serve as a testament to his distinctive approach to contemporary sculpture, encouraging viewers to reconsider the familiar and discover deeper meanings within ordinary experiences. Through Avianto’s skilled craftsmanship, bamboo becomes more than an artistic medium; it emerges as a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and transformation in response to environmental challenges.

Joko Avianto was born in Cimahi, West Java, in 1976. He graduated from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1996, where he later continued his Master’s studies. He currently serves as a sculpture lecturer at the Indonesian Arts College (ISBI) in Bandung.

Avianto’s artistic achievements have received international recognition, with exhibitions at prominent venues including Esplanade Singapore (2018), the Yokohama Triennale in Japan (2017), and Frankfurter Kunstverein in Frankfurt, Germany (2015). He has also exhibited at Art Stage Singapore (2015), Georgetown Festival in Penang, Malaysia (2014), ARTJOG (2012), and various group exhibitions at institutions and galleries including Murai Art Project, Gallery RJ Katamsi Yogyakarta, Art Bali 2019, Salihara Festival in Jakarta, and Ciputra World Marketing Gallery.

His works have been commissioned by organisations including the local government of Jakarta, Kohler Experience Center Jakarta, and Manunggal Residence. Avianto’s national solo exhibitions include Astakona (2001) at Benda Gallery, Yogyakarta; S.A.M.O (Social Activator Mobile Object) (2001) in Bandung; and Embodied (2023) at Galeri Ruang Dini, Bandung.