Monyet Gila: Episode One – The Episode with the Crazy Monkey investigates the role that narrative plays in contemporary culture. The artists consider their projects as separate works, installed in parallel to allow for moments of intersection as each excavates and reappraises epic narratives.

Indonesian, Sydney-based artist, Adri Valery Wens focuses on cultural stories of Hindu-Javanese origin, specifically the Wayang Orang (Human Puppet) performance based on two foundation epics - the Mahabharata (the story of the great Bharata Dynasty) and the Ramayana (the story of Rama’s Journey). Wens delves into the complexity and tensions of his cultural background through a series of photographic depictions of himself ‘performing’ characters within these epic narratives. Staged in Jakarta, dressed in elaborate costumes and theatrical makeup, the images translate the philosophical, political, poetic, performance and re-performance content of the epic stories through the genre of self-portraiture.

Australian-born, London-based artist Shaun Gladwell’s video artwork explores the popular Japanese television drama Monkey, based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en. Considered a cult classic, the program incorporated Taoist and Buddhist Philosophy, which had a great influence on Gladwell. The artist’s work looks to re-cast the role of Tripitaka – a young Buddhist Monk. The actress who originally played the monk, Masako Natsume, died in 1985 and Gladwell’s project acts as homage to Natsume’s portrayal of the character.

Curator Natalie King said, “I am thrilled to be co-curating an exhibition with Mikala Tai that interrogates the retrieval of narratives intertwined with performing selves in new work by Shaun Gladwell and Adri Valery Wens. The synergies and confluences between these inter-generational artists has resulted in an open and evolving conversation amongst all artists and curators.”

The collaboration of Gladwell and Wens illustrates how traditional epics and long loved narratives remain a determining factor in the creation of the contemporary self.

About the exhibition

Opening: Thursday March 10, 6 – 8pm

Media Preview: Thursday March 10, 4:30pm

Exhibition Dates: March 11 – April 23

Venue: 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, 181 – 187 Hay St, Sydney NSW

4A Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm, closed on public holidays

MORE UPCOMING 4A PROGRAMS:

February 10, 6:30pm - Cinema Alley at Golden Age Cinema and Bar

February 20, 11am - One Hundred and One Names in Tofu, family workshop at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour

March 7, 6pm - 4A Art Quiz at the Bearded Tit, part of the Art Month program

A media preview of Monyet Gila will be held at 4A on Thursday March 10, 4:30pm. RSVP: joanna@creative-asia.net

Courtesy of the artist and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, for further information please visit www.4a.com.au.