DREAM WEAVER
An old man sits facing a bustling pavilion. Children immerse themselves in various activities. Some enthusiastically scribble on papers in front of them, while others dance to the rhythm. There are also those engaged in casual banter or earnestly shouting verses of poetry from the papers in their hands. The atmosphere invites everyone to join in the spirit within.
Meanwhile, the man sips a cup of tea. Occasionally, he holds his wife’s hand while smiling at her. Every wrinkle on his face represents numerous life stories. The calloused skin of his palms, as rough as the achievements or losses grasped. A piece of cloth is behind him, with one end rolled up. The other end is still connected to the loom and appears freshly woven. Judging by its length, the fabric has been worked on for a long time and awaits continuation.
This is a dream belonging to Mahendra Satria Wibawa, affectionately called Pampam. It awakens an awareness that the current hard work will shape the future. Aware of the certainty of time, slowly eroding physical strength. Yet, the spirit is believed to propel him to continue creating. This spirit emanates from the daily environment, also filled with energy. Gradually, this dream is manifested with the help of those closest.
Markers of the Past
This solo exhibition serves as a marker for the journey traveled. Living not only as an artist but also as a husband, father, friend, and social being. Many things are left behind as part of the past, some carried into the present. Certain events feel essential to be marked and appreciated. There were moments when the mind and mental state were genuinely tired of facing the artistic life, and the body gave warnings. Suffering from anxiety became a valuable experience for Pampam. Gratitude takes the form of overcoming it by continuing to create. This exhibition aims to transform the past into a future full of happiness.
Entering his forties has also provided Pampam with many life experiences. From childhood to adolescence in Kediri, then moving to Yogyakarta. There was even a departure from the art world due to joining an organization that is now prohibited. Parts of this past are now being rearranged as reflections. Visually, these stories may not be evident in the artworks. However, their traces can still be discerned in intimate conversations. According to Pampam, discussions with fellow artists are crucial because new experiences emerge for the audience during these conversations, revealing hidden messages behind the visuals.
Enjoying artwork isn’t limited to what is visually displayed; it can be traced back to its process. Understanding the ideas, backgrounds, and the process of realization enables the audience to comprehend fully. Although interpreting a painting without an explanation can be equally intriguing, knowing the conceptualization enriches the exploration of visual meaning from a subjective perspective. Art is not only enjoyed based on everything displayed; there’s an idea before its realization, and the story evolves long after completion, continued by the artist or those influenced by the artwork.
Sheets of Energy
This exhibition presents dreams in a broad sense. There was a desire not to provide captions or explanations next to the artworks, allowing the audience to enjoy the visuals without being “disturbed” by titles and explanations. Pampam intended to avoid limiting the audience’s opinions about the displayed works. Everyone is entitled to their imagination and dreams.
Generally, Pampam’s works convey strong narratives through surrealistic language. Fairy tales and fables are among his pleasures. Bizarre forms serve as his visual adventure to tell stories and seek novelty. His extensive experience in the graphic world significantly influences his technical mastery. Writing has also been part of his past processes. He even created his own letters to make his writing less readable to others. The story of these letters has a fascinating art perspective when discussed.
Dreams are no longer interpreted solely as images experienced during sleep. Desires and waking imaginations are also considered dreams by Pampam. The awakened state transforms dreams or imagination into desires. These desires act as driving energy for someone to do something. Even memories of past dreams can generate new desires. When awakened, memories form new dreams, transcending time.
For Pampam, the visual concept of artwork represents the desires or dreams of an artist. Because ideas before realization are private thoughts. Once transformed into finished works, they become public because they are materialized and conveyed. When someone views the artwork, they instantly receive the same “dream.” There’s even a significant possibility of new and different “dreams” emerging in the audience. Thus, one person’s dream can influence those around them or those who receive it.
Based on this thinking, Pampam interprets dreams as a form of energy that moves and changes shape. Similar to the law of conservation of energy by the British physicist James Prescott Joule. This theory states that “energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be transferred from one form to another.” The analogy between dreams and energy is intangible but capable of influencing or shifting from one form to another. Therefore, Pampam tries to align with the universal law of energy, transforming each dream into an artwork for visibility. During the viewing process, energy shifts and creates new dreams in the audience.
This understanding of energy is the foundation of thought when titling “Penenun Mimpi” for this third solo exhibition. Dreams or desires within the artwork are hoped to reach the audience in a pure manner. Purity is desired as a dialogue through the simplest language. Forms are seen, then transformed into experiential memory; colors convey emotions. Ideas are received in new imagination.
Interwoven Overlaps
Fundamentally, weaving and braiding are the same. The difference lies in weaving using tools, while braiding relies on manual skills. In principle, both involve arranging and positioning threads in a crisscross and overlapping manner. Threads or long fibers are woven to become sheets of fabric. Threads, initially limited in function, become more versatile after turning into fabric. “Weaving” becomes a process of enhancing the likelihood that ideas are accepted by others.
Two essential aspects of the weaving process for Pampam are transforming fibers into threads and weaving threads into fabric. His spirit parallels the process of realizing Mahendra Pampam’s works. How he transforms conceptual ideas into tangible works named art using tools and materials. Then, slowly, memories are “spun” into threads of thoughts and visual ideas. Ideas mostly take the form of drawings ready for display, some in the form of sketchy scribbles as visual notes. The final work originates from a single design or a combination of several visual ideas. Then each idea is arranged, manifested, and made enjoyable for the audience. Because Pampam has a habit of planning everything, including starting an artwork.
There are certain rules when arranging or “weaving” memories into displayed works. Similar to weaving, the crossing and overlapping occur in regularity. The spirit taken is that of crossing, conflict, overlapping, or covering one another, based on the “law” as a rule. Not everything can be materialized in the end.
There may be differences within oneself between past thoughts and current beliefs. Ideas from the past, visually recorded, often go unrealized because they are deemed unsuitable for the present situation. Internal conflicts and overlapping interests arise between oneself and others. This can happen when seeing artwork similar or identical to the planned idea. Thus, there is a need to alter or thwart the initial idea. This is because Pampam is still striving to maintain “novelty” in his artistry. Although, on the other hand, he also believes that there is nothing truly new in this world. Additionally, there are technical and normative issues, legalities, social ethics. The awareness that life is based on laws and the social patterns of Eastern society with ingrained manners. Consequently, not all ideas are freely displayed in public spaces. Therefore, efforts are made to obscure or cover up an idea visually.
All of this stems from the idea that imagination is a space of wild freedom. However, there are “laws” in place to ensure not every desire turns into action. Like the unlimited nature of ideas, there are always norms or ethics limiting the manifestation and display of the ideas visually. These limits, like weaving, patterns emerge due to regular repetitions.
Dream Weaver
Dream Weaver is a figure in the deepest space of Mahendra Pampam’s identity as an artist. It could also be interpreted as an environment for desires, a place where dreams are woven into broader sheets. Weaving dreams is a quest for self-meaning, an attempt to find the meaning of one’s existence that has always provided the inspiration to create. Although, at the moment, the word “I” is still undefined because it continually changes according to space, time, and the abundance of dreams being woven.
This is because, according to him, nothing in this world truly stops or stagnates. Everything is “moving” and undergoing changes. The food on the table is actually undergoing a process of decay. Plants don’t move but continue to grow so quickly without our realization. Even a lying stone is not entirely still. This aligns with the quantum theory that every object consists of electrons constantly moving around the atomic nucleus. While we know that all matter in the world is composed of atoms.
The continuous movement provides motivation and always dynamic facing change. This is widely used to understand life and everything connected to it. When interpreting that oneself cannot be defined because it always grows and changes, the same goes for everything outside oneself. Change acts as a driver for seeking novelty. Space is a place for existence to be recognized. Along with time, which becomes the cause of every change. Dream Weaver remains as long as the loom keeps moving and threads of dreams are still provided by time.
Dreams in Question
Hopefully, Pampam’s various questions can be answered, as every dream around always connects with him. About the word “I” demanding to be defined. A wife who sees him as a perfect man when choosing the path of art for life. Efforts to encourage friends to remain active in the art world. The relationship with God, hidden in the forest of logic and feeling. The speed of change becomes increasingly felt as unattainable. The art stage where performances are endlessly staged. All bring forth answers as well as new questions, continuously repeating.
But this time, Mahendra Pampam invites us to explore our own dreams. It is also about seeing the possibility of the audience’s connection with the displayed artworks. A relationship as a medium for transferring energy and spirit to keep moving through every change. Objects and visual techniques displayed become a “language” for easy understanding. Allowing everyone’s imagination to add dreams to each artwork. Could this be a way to find answers? Combining one’s dreams with those of others.
The sun rises higher as the old man approaches the loom. Skillfully using it, he seems to become one with it. The sound of the loom harmonizes with the commotion of children in the pavilion. His wife remains faithfully by his side, occasionally feeding him a piece of his favorite cake. Each bite is an intimacy between them. Behind the woman’s glasses, there is a glow of happiness. The beauty of life accompanies the true man, the dream spinner. A dream shared with him. A dream that leads to exploring every corner of the universe.
Janu Pu
Coffee drinking companion
Here is the media coverage report on this exhibition:
https://getlost.id/2024/01/30/rangkuman-dimensi-kehidupan-mahendra-pampam-dalam-pameran-penenun-mimpi/https://www.lzy.co.id/post/art-exhibition-jakarta
https://www.kompas.id/baca/foto/2024/02/07/jakarta-art-hub-oasis-seni-kaum-urban-di-ibu-kota