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28 Earth and Elsewhere | Contemporary Works from the Collection
Earth and Elsewhere | Contemporary Works from the Collection 29
Dadang Chr i stanto
Manusia tanah (The earth human)
1996
In
Manusia tanah
(
The earth human
), the seeds of violence/
disempowerment and destruction/creation exist in parallel within
a figure that is symbolic of humankind. Dadang Christanto’s
work alludes here to Ardhanareshvara, an aspect of the Hindu
god Shiva, who is the cosmic embodiment of creative power and
destruction and represents both male and female characteristics.
But unlike the cosmic Shiva, Christanto’s figure does not
convey the spiritual power of a god; it is, instead, a foreboding
and volatile figure.
Dadang Christanto
/ Indonesia b.1957 /
Manusia tanah (The earth human)
1996 / Oil, lead pencil, ink and oilstick on canvas / 130.5 x 110cm / Acc. 1998.060 / Purchased 1998.
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation Grant