Yeo Workshop is pleased to present Maryanto’s second solo exhibition in Singapore, Story of Space, featuring a presentation of monochromatic landscape paintings and sculptural installations. An intriguing part of his artistic practice is his dramatic black and white paintings, created by the meticulous scratching away of a black layer of paint, to reveal a white layer underneath. This technique is derived from his printmaking practice, where the focus is on negative space; the resulting compositions made by creating light, instead of creating shadow.

Maryanto makes art to engage in social and political activism. Deeply concerned about environmental issues, his inspiration stems from his observation of the physical landscape and its changes brought about by human interference. From drawings and paintings, to sculptures and installations, Maryanto’s exhibitions visualise themes of environmental exploitation and its political consequences. He believes that landscapes are rich in their untold narratives and it is through his detailed visualisation and representation of landscape in his works that he highlights the importance of protecting the environment.

Story of Space presents a synthesis of utopian and dystopian reflections of landscape and the environment by pulling together elements from his previous exhibitions; Space of Exception (2015, Yeo Workshop) which presented an exploration of the natural physical landscape through a series of observational drawings, and Mineral Desire (2016, Art Basel Hong Kong) which dove into the political implications of mining the beautiful natural landscape for economic gain. Developing on these ideas, Story of Space reveals more complexities and layers through Maryanto’s visual narratives of degraded and developing landscapes.

Pictured: Maryanto and his work-in-progress for Story of Space.