12.06.2022 — 30.10.2022

Bonnefanten presents Melati Suryodarmo (1969, Surakarta, Indonesia) as the eleventh winner of the Bonnefanten Award for Contemporary Art (BACA). On 12 June, the museum opens the exhibition I am a Ghost in My Own House, Suryodarmo’s first extensive solo exhibition in Europe and the Netherlands. Suryodarmo is a versatile artist but is mainly known for her compelling performances. In this exhibition, we would like you to meet one of the pioneers of performance art.

The title of the exhibition comes from Suryodarmo's twelve-hour performance I am a Ghost in My Own House. During this performance, Suryodarmo uses a stone mortar to crush charcoal into dust on a table. She literally exhausts herself, but at the same time she also exhausts the energy potential of the charcoal.

The works in the exhibition show the versatility of her artistry. Alongside performances, you also see video installations, photography and drawings. Her work is generally inspired by her performances, where her body and the notion of time are important elements.

“For Suryodarmo, pulverising the charcoal symbolises her tiredness and physical exhaustion, which are coupled with her being uprooted and her return to Indonesia after living in Germany for many years. Hence the title I am a Ghost in My Own House.”

Philippe Pirotte, guest curator

Bonnefanten
Avenue Ceramique 250
6221 KX Maastricht
The Netherlands