KBRN, Sleman: Yogyakarta, a city where art breathes life into every corner, once again enchants with its latest exhibition, Rah/Rudira, showcasing the works of Ayurika and Henryette Louise. Running from May 9 to June 29, 2025, it invites art enthusiasts to immerse in a unique visual experience.

The exhibition takes place at the contemporary EDSU House gallery on the second floor of the Pulang ke Uttara aparthotel on Jalan Kaliurang, Sleman Regency, just some four kilometers from downtown Yogyakarta, which has only been officially opened on Friday, March 21, 2025.

"Because this is our second exhibition, we considered featuring collaborations between EDSU and several artists. We started with Ayurika and Louise, whose sensibilities and aesthetics are well-suited to represent the venue as a new space," Christine Toelle, EDSU Program Director, said.

The gallery offers a compelling dichotomy through its two unique spaces for experiencing art. The "White Space" provides a neutral and brightly lit environment, allowing viewers to engage with the artworks without any disruptive shadows

In stark contrast, the "Black Box" plunges visitors into complete darkness, using precise, focused lighting to dramatically highlight only the art pieces themselves. Across these two distinct settings, the exhibition features a substantial collection of approximately 30 works in total.

The White Space showcases nine large paintings, a gypsum installation, and 20 sketches. The Black Box presents four framed works, a gypsum installation, and four pieces of works using velvet fabric, said Auracinta Dewakanya, Gallery Sitter at EDSU House, on Friday, May 23, 2025.

Each room's carefully controlled ambiance promises to enhance the viewing experience, ensuring that every piece is presented with impactful intentionality.

The exhibition's title, Rah/Rudira, holds profound meaning: Rah symbolizes the unseen essence or spirit, while Rudira represents the visible, tangible "blood" of the art, inviting contemplation on both the inner and outer dimensions of the works. The word rah/rudira in Javanese means blood.

"The meaning of rah/rudira itself is about what is seen and unseen within us, so this exhibition discusses our emotions as humans. Taking a break in this exhibition signifies how we often forget to rest when we have strong ambitions for something we want to achieve," Auracinta said.

The atmosphere promises a thoughtful exploration of perception and substance, offering a truly engaging experience for every visitor.

Ayurika, an alumna of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta from Grobogan, Central Java, believes that the human body, like sacred texts, is created to be studied and serve as a conduit for communication between beings and the Creator.

In her art, she positions the body as the primary actor, negotiating symbols, power, and spirituality. Her focus lies not on the body as merely observed, but on the body in action.

"As admirers of Ayurika's work, we are invited to embrace our bodies, where she depicts our authentic selves, signifying our true nature and the need to accept it. Approximately 13 of her works are featured in this exhibition," Cinta, as Auracinta is affectionately called, explained.

She said Ayu was also inspired by East Javanese culture, which is why her work includes a bull's head.

"Her pieces incorporate the Javanese phrase 'Sura Dira Jayaningrat Lebur Dening Pangastuti,' meaning that all bravery, power, glory, loss or disappearance, patience, and compassion eventually merge," Cinta added.

Conversely, Henryette Louise, an Indonesian artist celebrated for her installation art in various mediums such as paper, gypsum, and canvas, presents the body as a post-traumatic field.

She explores not dramatic trauma, but the subtle, insidious trauma that silently incubates within gestures, fibers, ink strokes, and graphite dust, creating a deeply resonant experience for viewers.

"Louise began her work using gypsum as a medium. From her very first piece, she was deeply drawn to it. After that, she started painting on canvas with oil paints. She is exhibiting approximately 20 works," Cinta said.

Louise's artistic concept leads her to display more objects than Ayurika, as she employs a hybrid approach to convey her narratives in each piece. She combines fragments of human bodies with animals and other various objects, using this method to express the emotional complexities embedded within her work.

This EDSU House exhibition intentionally foregoes written explanations or descriptions near the artworks, encouraging visitors to freely explore and imagine the meaning behind each piece. This approach embraces all interpretations from viewers, with exhibition assistants available to provide narratives if desired.

"All the artworks displayed here were created in 2025, with most being made between February and April 2025," Cinta explained.

EDSU transcends the typical gallery experience, functioning as a stage for artistic experimentation where ideas are tested, challenged, and even dismantled, only to be reimagined in bolder forms.

This space is not designed for those seeking certainty. Instead, it welcomes the inquisitive and those eager to push the boundaries of their own thoughts.

The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, with general admission priced at IDR 30,000 (USD 1,84). Students, art enthusiasts, and artists enjoy a reduced rate of IDR 15,000.

Adding to its appeal, EDSU also houses a unique bookstore named Toko Buku Yang Tau (The Bookstore That Knows) directly complementing the gallery.

This curated space allows visitors to browse and purchase books, with selections drawn from Akik Books and Fine Arts books, in collaboration with publishing partners such as Pojok Cerpen, Mojok, Jordan Jordan, Extensive Publishing, Apartamento, Wonderwhy, and writer/artist Suwarno.

Independent publishers are also welcome to consign their books at Toko Buku Yang Tau, further enriching its diverse collection and fostering a dynamic environment for both art and literature.

"The primary goal of this exhibition is to foster the development of Indonesian fine arts, and with the bookstore, to create a gathering place for both art and literary communities," Cinta concluded. ***