Iwan Yusuf’s Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit exhibition comes to Selasar Pavilion Bandung, featuring installations exploring maritime culture.
The sea is more than a geographic expanse. It is a breathing space, a source of livelihood, and a cultural landscape that shapes the way coastal communities live. These are the values explored and interpreted by artist Iwan Yusuf in the exhibition Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit at Selasar Sunaryo Art Space (SSAS).
Art installation at Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit. Doc. Written
Curated by Agung Hujatnikajennong, the exhibition presents 15 installation works, most of them taking the form of boats. Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit highlights the iconic role of the Pinisi boat in the lives of the people of Bulukumba, South Sulawesi. Through an in-depth research approach, Iwan traces the layers of maritime culture that have long been the lifeblood of coastal communities across the Nusantara.
Iwan Yusuf is known as an artist who has consistently explored themes of the sea and maritime spirituality for more than a decade. In his artistic practice, he often uses nets, fish, and other marine elements as his primary mediums. His works trace the cultural legacy of coastal communities while offering a deeper reflection on the relationship between humans, nature, and the spiritual values that have grown between the two.
Iwan Yusuf, Doc. Instagram @studio.jaring
During his research in Bulukumba, a region known as the birthplace of the Pinisi boat, Iwan immersed himself in more than just the boat's physical form. He delved into the spirit embedded in its creation: the perseverance of the craftsmen, the richness of tradition, and the relationship between people and the sea that has endured for centuries.
Art installation at Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit. Doc. Written
In this solo exhibition, Iwan presents video as part of his artistic practice for the first time. Poetically composed, visual fragments of workshop machinery, expansive seascapes, white sand, crashing waves, and sections of boat hulls from Ara, Bira, and Lemo-Lemo come together to form a landscape that captures not only objects, but also cultural memory and the timeless pulse of coastal life.
The installations are spread across various points, both inside and outside the gallery. Visitors can view a floor plan and a list of artwork titles as a guide before exploring the exhibition in its entirety.
Art installation at Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit. Doc. Written
Interestingly, the exhibition route is designed differently from the usual gallery experience. Rather than entering the main space directly, visitors are invited to begin their journey from the side of the building, continue through the interior, and eventually arrive at the outdoor area. This arrangement creates a flowing spatial narrative, resembling a voyage in which a boat moves through time and place.
The exhibition Tujuh Layar Menyisir Langit can still be visited at Selasar Pavilion Bandung until June 29, 2025. The exhibition is open to the public and can be visited every Friday to Saturday from 10.00–21.00 WIB, and on Sundays from 10 AM–8 PM.
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