Biography
Dias Prabu (b.1987) is a multi-disciplinary artist, painter and muralist who worked and lived in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He graduated for Master's program at The Indonesia Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta in 2012. Dias got his first major national mural competition initiated by National Gallery of Indonesia in 2014. Moreover, he became finalists for some prestigious art competitions such as UOB Painting of the year 2015. Dias works are so various such as painting, drawing, mural, installation and drawing batik art. On his works, he usually combined some materials such as acrylic paint, spray paint, textile dyes, found objects or charcoal to give some perspectives and complexities of his works on fabric, canvas or his art installations. For the last 10 years, Dias focused on his particular works combining hand-drawn batik with site-specific/on-site large-scale installation.
He is a founder of Kultura Collectiva, a collective art group based in Yogyakarta since 2020. Kultura Collectiva works are combining traditional cultures from Indonesia with contemporary art which working inclusively and collectively with other artists. His previous solo exhibition was in Artspace Mackay Queensland and be part of the selected artists for Indian Ocean Craft Triennial IOTA24 in Perth (both were in Australia). He just finished his art residency AiR Touch!Tokoname in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture Japan. Dias currently working for his new batik installation works for the exhibition in for 2025 and preparing some projects along with his collective for Europa Tour 2026 such as in the Netherlands and Ireland.
Artist Statement
All of my works are inspired by the historical context from the past, collective memories, socio-cultural, cultural identity, historical things and when old traditions meet with today’s culture. Those things are my free pass entering the window of the past which can also be reopened in the present and the future. Through my works, I want to be part of interconnecting things from the past-present-future narratively or collecting the scattered memories then re-imagine or re-visualizing it again as a main pillar of my works.
I recognized that old traditions and narratives are at risk of being forgotten as the world is really fast to change in every aspect every day. Then I wanted to stay in the line, push it more and lift it up on another level through my artwork. My works are always growing in every chapter then pushing the boundaries to find every possibility such as materials, unused objects, collaborations through site-specific art projects including large-scale installations. In the end, every scratch, lines, drawing in my work is a reflection of curiosity in exploring every story or piece of dreams that are like puzzle to build in a different perspective.
Solo Exhibitions
2024
- Relentlines: Through the window of the Past, Artspace Mackay, Mackay, QLD, Australia
2023
- In Time All Are Together, Crary Art Gallery, Warren, PA, USA
2022
- Flowing Lifelines, Broken Hill City Art Gallery, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia
- The Holy Trades, Indonesian Embassy for Australia, Wisma 1, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2020
- Myth Lines and Memories: New batiks by Dias Prabu, 16 Albermarle Project Space, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2013
- HELLO FREAKSHOW (Houtenhand and LEGIPAIT CAFE), Malang, East Java
- A Little Story from the Big Body, Kersan Art Studio, Yogyakarta
2012
- Fat!So? (Jogja National Museum), Yogyakarta
2011
- So Fat So Good, Tembi Rumah Budaya, Yogyakarta
- So Fat So Good, Tembi Rumah Budaya, Jakarta
Selected Group Exhibition
2025
- ARTSUBS 2025, Material Ways, Balai Pemuda, Surabaya, East Java
- Theatre of Memories by Kultura Collectiva, Multi-Arts Pavilion mima, Lake Macquarie NSW, Australia
2024
- Touch!Tokoname by Kultura Collectiva, Tsune Zune Café, Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Indian Ocean Craft Triennial IOTA24, Codes in Parallel//Sustain, Holmes á Court Gallery, Perth WA, Australia
- Ebb and Flow, Contemporary Indonesian Sculpture from Konfir Kabo Collection, Art Gallery of Ballarat, VIC, Australia.
- On Tradition, 16Albermarle Project Space, Newtown, NSW, Australia
2023
- Textile Art Biennial BIEN 2023, The Sun, Kranj, Slovenia
- Artlanthropy, Move92 Art, Seattle, Washington, USA
2022
- 70 years of Erlangga, National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta
2021
- 30th Anniversary of TAASA, The Asian Art Society of Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Warta, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta
2020
- Indonesia Calling 2020, 16Albermarle Project Space, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, Australia
2019
- MAM (Mini Art Malang) #2, Beyond the Lines, DKM Malang, East Java
2018
- Pameran Besar Seni Rupa 2018, PANJI, Graha Among Tani, Batu
2017
- Harmoni dalam perbedaan, Ritz Carlton,Kuningan,Jakarta
- Mini Seksi #1, Ruangdalam Arthouse, Yogyakarta
Biennial & Triennial
2024
- Indian Ocean Craft Triennial IOTA24, Codes in Parallel//Sustain, Holmes á Court Gallery, Perth WA,
Australia
2023
- Textile Art Biennial BIEN 2023, The Sun, Kranj, Slovenia
2015
- Biennale East Java #5 “Ruang Pribadi”, Orasis Art Gallery, Surabaya, Indonesia
Art Residency
2024
- Artist-in-Residence Program TOUCH!TOKONAME, Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
2022
- The batik coloring process residency at Dongaji Batik, Sewon, Bantul, Yogyakarta
2020
- The batik coloring process residency at Dongaji Batik, Sewon, Bantul, Yogyakarta
2018
- Traditional hand-drawn batik residency for three months at Batik Guntur, Kepek, Wonosari,
Gunungkidul,
Yogyakarta
2017
- Art program initiated by Ministry of Education and culture of Indonesia called "SENIMAN MENGAJAR #1”
(Artist Teaching #1) in Natuna Islands which one of the farthest, northermost area of Indonesia.
2011
- Artist Residency #8, Tembi Rumah Budaya Yogyakarta dan Jakarta, Indonesia.