The Search for Identity in the Contemporary Artworks of Heri Dono

Abstract

Heri Dono was one of the first Asian artists to enter the Asian and Asia-Pacific forums in the 1990s. Upon the question of “How are Heri Dono’s thoughts and works showing an indication of the search for identity?”, this research applies qualitative method with inductive analysis.  Through approaches of aesthetics discipline and semiotics, this research traces a new indication in the search for self-identity —one that had abandoned the awareness of an identity based on Western modern views as well as nationalist identities. Bringing tradition and ethnicity into artwork is the mainstream of Indonesia's art development during the 1970s and 1980s to discover Indonesia’s art identity. Tradition and ethnicity in Heri Dono's concept, however, is vastly different. He did not spontaneously decide to highlight ethnic culture and tradition based on this perception. In summary, this research proves that Heri Dono’s works not only showed influences from ethnic tradition, but he himself had consciously highlighted tradition and ethnicity as a fundamental concept in his creative work. His works clearly showed signs of ethnic tradition and the expressions that highlight the everyday life of the underclass.

Keywords: Identity, Contemporary art, Heri Dono, Tradition, Ethnicity