I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (Murni) (Indonesia)

Art Gallery of New South Wales

I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (Murni) (1966-2006) painted her pains and fantasies with humour and honesty: sharp objects piercing through erotic body parts, or animals and vegetation morphing into alien-like creatures. In her world, female subjects unabashedly embrace pleasure; amorphous, grotesque bodies transform from passive to active; and exaggerated erotic body parts appear alive and, at times, sacred. Together, her works paint a striking picture of an artist breaking free — from social convention, from the demands of the art world, from the pain of a difficult past and from the stereotypes of what a woman, a Balinese, and an artist could create.

Presentation at the 24th Biennale of Sydney was made possible with generous support from Gajah Gallery.