Merry Wong
Jul 14, 2025
ISA Art Gallery is proud to present Made Me Dirty a solo show by Ardi Gunawan. The exhibition reveals not only Ardi’s relationship with paint, but also his broader navigation between artistic freedom and professional responsibility. The exhibition stands as a culmination of his multifaceted practice, where the messiness of creation collides with the rigours of academia. In recent years, Ardi has balanced his studio practice with his work as an educator and researcher, constantly negotiating the demands of institutional environments. This dual role informs the urgency and irreverence in his paintings.
The stains on his skin, the splashes on his floor, and the chaotic surfaces of his canvases speak to more than just material process—they become metaphors for a deeper disobedience. Ardi uses painting as a mode of resistance: against bureaucratic neatness, against intellectual containment, and against the pressure to always make sense. This body of work, then, is not just a return to painting—it is a reclaiming of mess, humour, and spontaneity in a world that often insists on clarity, control, and compliance. From political satire to emotional improvisation, Ardi’s paintings take on many voices.
Ardi's works have also been hosted at prestigious venues such as the Gertrude Contemporary Australia (2008, 2009, 2025) , National Gallery of Indonesia (2013), and Objectifs in Singapore (2017). His artistic endeavours have been prominently featured and acknowledged in various publications, ranging from the Jakarta Post to Art Monthly Australia.
Click here to view the catalogue
Opening Date: Friday, 4th July 2025
Gallery opens from 11 AM
Opening Event from 4 PM - 8 PM
Opening remarks at 5.30 PM
Location: ISA Art Gallery, Ground Floor, Wisma 46, Jakarta Pusat
Please kindly RSVP Here : https://goers.co/mademedirty
