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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