Adi Gunawan

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About the artwork

For Gunawan, his symbolic sculptures often explore the significance of animals, inspired by his cultural background of growing up in an agricultural society. This charming sculpture depicts a bulbous figure lying on top of a large pig, and the figure is shown to be incredibly comfortable in the animal’s presence. He wears a sweet smile of contentment on his face as he lies asleep. The pig appears to reciprocate his sense of comfort, as it appears to be sleeping as well with a similar pleasant expression. Adi often puts forth the notion of a mystical relationship between animals and humans, and this heartwarming sculpture clearly illustrates the harmony between the two, as they both coexist peacefully together and display a sense of trust in each other’s presence.

About the artist

Born in Yogyakarta in 1974, Adi Gunawan received his education at the Institut Seni Indonesia. He is a prominent Indonesian sculptor known for his distinctive and often playful and satirical bronze sculptures. In his symbolic sculptures, Adi invokes exploration of themes related to human behavior, social issues, and cultural traditions. He uses his cultural positioning as a tool to visualize motions, gestures, characters and expressions of various subjects that he sculpts. He often incorporates elements of Indonesian folklore and everyday life, giving his pieces a rich cultural context. Growing up in an Agrarian society, he depicts a lot of animals in his work. The symbiotic and mystical relationship between animals and humans is well expressed in his artworks.