FENDRY EKEL
Born
1971, Jakarta, Java, IDN)
studied fine art at the GerritRietveld Academy and the esteemed Rijksakademie van beeldendekunsten in Amsterdam. As an outcome of his solo exhibition in HVCCA in New York in 2010, he was invited to participate in the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York in 2011. Ekel has been dubbed a pictordoctus, who critically investigates the power of art, figuration and representation by appropriating images from our collective memory. His multilayered monumental paintings after existing photographic pictures explore the relation between man and memory. This year a comprehensive monograph with contributions by several international art historians will be presented by Black Cat Publishing, Berlin. Fendry Ekel has exhibited his work internationally and has had reoccurring solo shows in Amsterdam, Jakarta, Milan, Valencia, Mexico City and New York. Ekel lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Berlin, Germany.
Education
2011 International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York, US
1999 Progetto Arte, Cittadellarte, FondazionePistoletto, Biella, Italy
1998 – 2000 Rijksakademie van beeldendekunsten, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1993 – 1997 GerritRietveld Academy, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Solo Exhibitions
2014
Investigation, OFCA International, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2011
To Sweet Delight, Luis Adelantado Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
Fortune Tellers, Open Studio ISCP, New York, US
Fruits From Babylon, Brand New Gallery, Milan, Italy
2010
Fendry Ekel Paintings, duo show with Chris Jones, Ana Cristea Gallery, New York, US
Fruits From Babylon, Metis Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2009
The Witness, Hudson Valley Center For Contemporary Art, New York, US
2008
Mirror and The Cross, Luis Adelantado Gallery, Valencia, Spain
2007
Century 21, OFFICE: Contemporary Art Space, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2004
F.E.A.R., Lontar Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2003
Flow Resolution, SchoneKunsten Gallery, Haarlem, Netherlands
2002
One Man Shows, Kunstliga, Den Helder, Netherlands
2001
A Key Coming From the Overseas, Art Project Space Leiden, Netherlands
2000
Rules of Art, art project and lecture, De Badcuyp foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Group Exhibitions
2015
Double Exposure, Berlin Open Studio #2, Berlin, Germany
Six Degrees of Separation, Canna Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Archive, Yogyakarta Open Studio #3, Fendry Ekel Studio, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Archive, Yogyakarta Open Studio #3, Black Goat Studios, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2014
Hospitality, Berlin Open Studio #1, Fendry Ekel Studio, Berlin, Germany
International Relation, Yogyakarta Open Studio #2, PartNER Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pandora Box #2, curated by DioPamola, OFCA International, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Art Stage Singapore with ARNDT Gallery, Singapore
2013
Map of Association, Yogyakarta Open Studio #1, OFCA International, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Annual art exhibition Stiftung Starke, Löwenpalais Berlin, Germany
Istanbul Art Fair with Yavuz Fine Art, Istanbul, Turkey
Sydney Contemporary 13 with Yafuz Fine Art, Sydney, Australia
Indonesian Pavilion, Art Stage Singapore, Singapore
Kindred By Choice I with JumaldiAlfi, Martin Kippenberger, Andy Warhol, EntangWiharso, Daniel Richter, ARNDT Gallery, Singapore
Expanded Painting, Prague Biennale 6, curated by Nicola Trezzi, Prague, Czech Republic
2012
A Sign of Absence, curated by Aminudin TH Siregar, Edwin’s Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2×2, Eileen Kaminsky Foundation, New York, US
Estate, curated by Lucie Fontaine Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York, US
Yogyakarta: Five Artists From Indonesia, Marc Straus Gallery, New York, US
Grand Opening, Rachel Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2011
Incongruent Sum, curated by Astrid Honold, Leroy 111, New York, US
Metropolitan Wonderland, curated by Astrid Honold, ISCP, New York, US
Summer Show, André Simoens Gallery, Knokke, Belgium
ARCO Madrid with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Madrid, Spain
Art Paris with André Simoens Gallery, Paris, France
2010
Rijksakademie Endowment Fund, Sotheby’s Auction House, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Art Amsterdam with Metis Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Art Brussel with André Simoens Gallery, Brussel, Belgium
ZonaMaco with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
Art Paris with André Simoens Gallery, Paris, France
MiArt with Metis Gallery, Milan, Italy
2009
Higher Ground, curated by Astrid Honold, Metis Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Rhetoric of Doubt, curated by Astrid Honold, André Simoens Gallery, Knokke, Belgium
Art Brussels with André Simoens Gallery, Knokke, Belgium
ARCO Madrid with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Madrid, Spain
ARTE Fiera Bologna with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Bologna, Italy
ZonaMaco Art Fair with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Monterrey, Mexico
2008
Shanghai Contemporary 08 with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Shanghai, China
Double Diplomacy, Neon Parc Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Double Diplomacy, Gabriel Rolt Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
MACO Mexico with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Mexico City
Roma Contemporary with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Rome, Italy
ARCO Madrid with Luis Adelantado Gallery, Madrid, Spain
Against Nature, curated by Astrid Honold, Luis Adelantado Gallery, Valencia, Spain
2007
SCOPE Art Fair Miami with PriskaJuschka Fine Art, Miami, US
Chronic #2, curated by Astrid Honold, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, Belgium
A Human Touch, The Dowse Museum, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Chronic. Handmade Nightmares in Red, Yellow and Blue, curated by Astrid Honold, Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, US
2006
Nederland 1, curated by TiongAng, Museum Gouda, Netherlands
Shared History, curated by Sophie Berrebi, W139 and ArtietAmicitae, Amsterdam, Netherlands
A Human Touch, Bund 18 Creative Center, Shanghai, China
2005
GRID #2, curated by KerenDetton, éof Gallery, Paris, France
Durban Video Festival, Pulse, Durban, South Africa
Simply droog, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Netherlands
2004
Salón de Los Inmigrantes, curated by Dirk Jan Jager, De Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, Netherlands
& CO, exhibition of collaborative projects of visual artist TiongAng, Outline Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Go Slow, organized by droog, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Première Vue, curated by Michel Nuridsany, Passages de Retz, Paris, France
Simply droog, Haus der Kunst, München, Germany
Open Borders, European Cultural Capital, Lille, France
Mi Casa Su Casa, presentation Space For Artists at Visite, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Speed Climbers, organized by Bureau Des Videos Paris, MPOH, Tokyo, Japan
2003
GRID, project presentation and catalog launch, Stedelijk Museum Bureau, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Transit 8, Umbrella Studios, Townsville, Australia
HERE! We Go, Babylon Club project space, Space For Artists foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Transit 8, 24 HR Art, Darwin, Australia
De Grote Verbeelding, De Grote Kerk, Den Haag, Netherlands
GRID, a collaborative art project, Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, Indonesia
2002
City Jam Projectiemobiel, art center Hooghuis, Arnhem, Netherlands
GRID, a collaborative art project, Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
bav~NAF #1, new media art festival, Jejaring Networkers, Bandung, Indonesia
PlekVoor Blanco, SchoneKunsten Gallery, Haarlem, Netherlands
Looping, organized by Art Project Space Leiden, Netherlands
2001
New Holland Festival, De Badkcuyp foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Reistafel, Rietveldnaar de Beurs, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Surprise – Wishful Thinking, organized by Street Level, Dresden, Germany
City Jam #2, organized by art center Hooghuis, Arnhem, Netherlands
Study For Portrait of a Hunger Striker, National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, Netherlands
2000
Co-founder of Space For Artists foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
I Think So…, video art commission with visual artist TiongAng, De Badcuyp foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nemo, organized by gallery Vertrek&Verblijf, Science Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rituals, Infocus stage for film and video art, De Badcuyp foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1999
Interior, Open Studios, Rijksakademie van beeldendekunsten, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Recognition of the Place, art project, Skoki, Poland
Progetto Arte, Cittadellarte, FondazionePistoletto, Biella, Italy
1998
Network, Open Studios, Rijksakademie van beeldendekunsten, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Art Amsterdam with SchoneKunsten Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Come-Back, curated by Ton Berends, Erasmus Huis, Jakarta, Indonesia
Bibliography
2014
PacoBarragán, Conversation with Matthias Arndt, image, RES Art World/World Art Nr. 11, October 2014
2012
HerrySuhendra, Tanda Yang Hilang, Bisnis Indonesia Weekend, 16 December 2012
SofianDwi, Citraandalam Visual SeniRupa Modern, Seputar Indonesia, 9 December 2012
Indah Setiawati, Showcase of Indonesian Art, Jakarta Post, 28 October 2012
Aminudin TH Siregar, A Sign of Absence, exhibition catalog, Jakarta: Edwin’s Gallery, 2012
Christine Cocca, The Sultans of Indonesian Art. Taking Stock of Seven Contemporary Trailblazers.Flash Art International, January/February 2012
2011
DamianoGullì, Folkert de Jong. Fendry Ekel, Flash Art Italy, May 2011
Marco Tagliafierro, A Condenser of Emotion, exhibition catalog, Milan: Brand New Gallery, 2011
GiulioCattaneo, Folkert de Jong & Fendry Ekel: doppiapersonalealla Brand New Gallery, Ars Key Magazine, 18 March 2011
2010
Christophe Van Gerrewey, Chess Problems. On the Paintings of Fendry Ekel, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing, 2010
Eva Coster, Fendry Ekel. Fruits From Babylon, Kunstbeeld #9, 2010
Lilly Wei, Fate’s Carnival, Art In America, April 2010
Lynn Berger, Double Touch, Flash Art International, January/February 2010
Benjamin Genocchio, A Dutch Painter, Works With Much to Say, The New York Times, 24 January 2010
2009
Lynn Berger, Speels en dromerig, met eenkritischeondertoon, de Volkskrant, 7 October 2009
Marc J. Straus, Christophe Van Gerrewey, Double Dutch, exhibition catalog, New York: HVCCA, 2009
Tanguy Eeckhout, M.J. Straus, Fendry Ekel. Witness, works on paper, monograph, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing, 2009
Rosa Ulpiano, Mirror And The Cross, Flash Art International, April/May 2009
Rosa Ulpiano, Intersección de significados. Folkert de Jong y Fendry Ekel, Levante El MercantilValenciano, 27 February 2009
Gustavo Marrone, Folkert de Jong y Fendry Ekel, B-guided #38, 2009
2008
Rosa Ulpiano, Against Nature, PD Arte, Levante El MercantilValenciano, 2008
Tristan Koenig, Tanguy Eeckhout, Double Diplomacy, exhibition catalog, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing, 2008
Tanguy Eeckhout, Chronic, Handmade Nightmares …, Museum Doordacht magazine #6, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, 2008
MachteldLeij, Verbeelding van Macht, Kunstbeeld #4, 2008
2007
JoostDeclercq, Chronic, Museum Doordacht magazine #5, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, 2007
Jan Dietvorst, Slow Art, Museum Doordacht magazine #5, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, 2007
Kitty Zijlmans, Astrid Honold, Chronic. Handmade Nightmares in Red, Yellow and Blue, exhibition catalog, Amsterdam: Black Cat Publishing, 2007
2006
ChristelVesters, Nederland 1, Metropolis M Nr. 3, June/July 2006
Ivette Reyes Matturano, Dislocation, scientific thesis, University of Amsterdam, 2006
Sophie Berrebi, Shared History. Decolonizing the Image, exhibition catalog, Amsterdam: W139 and ArtietAmicitiae, 2006
Marina de Vries, De NederlanderAlsVreemdeStijve Vogel, de Volkskrant, 23 March 2006
2005
KerenDetton, GRID # 2, exhibition catalog, Paris: eof Gallery, 2005
Asikin Hassan, Jan van Heemst, Bert Steevensz, HendroWiyanto, Fendry EkelF.E.A.R., monograph, Jakarta: Lontar Gallery, 2005
HendroWiyanto, Micropolitik Sang Bunglon, Tempo magazine No. 3, January 2005
2004
Paul F. Agusta, Fendry Ekel makes music tangible through installations, The Jakarta Post, 23 December 2004
Sihar Ramses Simatupang, Pameran New Media Art F.E.A.R., SinarHarapan, December 2004
Michel Nuridsany, Premiere Vue, 3rd Edition, exhibition catalog, Paris: Passages de Retz, 2004
2003
Galerieselectie, Fendry Ekel, Flow Resolution, NRC Handelsblad, 13 November 2003
Geert van de Wetering, Broedplaatstegen Amsterdam Disneyland, de Volkskrant, 15 August 2003
Haagse Grote Kerkdomeinbeeldhouwers, de Volkskrant, 23 July 2003
2002
IenekeSuidman, Aantypografiegeengebrek, Compres, Vol. 27, 2002
2001
IngePollet, City Jam, Metropolis M #5, 2001
Coen Polack, Fendry Ekel: de kunstenaaralshongerstaker, LeidschDagblad, 17 October 2001
Bart Jungmann, Uit de stadgejaagd, de Volkskrant, 4 October 2001
ManjaHalee, Fendry Ekel zetruimte van Kunstliganaarzijn hand, NoordhollandscheDagblad, 30 October 2001
2000
Tafelgesprek, Skrien magazine #8, 2000
1999
Lucetteter Borg, Jongekunstenaarsblijvendichtbijzichzelf, de Volkskrant, 26 November 1999
La cittadell’arte die Biella, Flash Art Italia, #217, Summer 1999
Lectures
2010
Visiting artist and lecture with Folkert de Jong and Astrid Honold, MFA Fine Arts, Brooklyn College, New York, US
2007
Visiting artist and lecture with Dylan Graham and Folkert de Jong, University of Chicago, US
2006
Artist talk with TiongAng, Museum Gouda, Gouda, Netherlands
2003
One Way Ticket, Department of Art History, University of Leiden, Netherlands
2000
A Journey Without Destination, La Salle College of the Arts, Singapore
Rules of Art, De Badcuyp foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1999
Work presentation and lecture, Dutch Institute, Rome, Italy
Collections
Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (HVCCA) New York, Museum DhondtDhaenens, Belgium, Plancius Art Collection Netherlands, ARC Collection Netherlands, private and corporate collections in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia and The United States