Robi Fathoni’s profile on Artsy
Robi Fathoni
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Born 1973 in Pelembang, Indonesia
In most cases, the pencil is an important tool for any visual artist, used in the intermediate process of creating artworks, regardless of what medium or mode the final art piece may be. For Indonesian visual artist Robi Fathoni, however, the pencil is the primary medium he uses to create his art. His realist graphite on canvas figurative works has earned him the reputation of being one of the emerging artists of his generation to look out for.
Having explored figurative expressions of adults in his earlier pencil works, his more recent drawings / paintings turn to children as the focus. A father himself, Robi sees much of humanity’s dreams, hopes, and ambitions in the every day lives of children. This is particularly evident in the five group exhibitions he participated in during Jogja Artweeks in 2016.
His mastery of the medium is best appreciated through the intricate drawings he produces, done mostly on canvas, usually with black graphite as the primary medium, augmented when necessary with the sparing use of color pencils and occasionally acrylic paint.
Those familiar with Robi Fathoni’s career will be aware that his pencil-based works weren’t always the mode of art the artist produced. An active visual artist since his days as a student at the prestigious Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI), Robi has actively participated in many exhibitions since his student days. He has, in the past, produced oil paintings, dabbling for a short spell with mixed media works, and even attempted a brief period of producing abstract art.
But he found his true calling when he experimented expanding his pencil drawings, then solely on paper, onto the canvas. He found the expanse provided to him by the canvas liberating, allowing him to do much more than he could on paper. Robi has, through his works, elevated the status of pencil drawings to become final works on fine art, and may today be considered quite unique in his approach among his artist peers.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Art, Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI), Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Awards (selected)
2001
Finalist, Philip Morris International Art Award Indonesia
1996
Best Glass Painting, ISI Faculty of Fine Art, Yogyakarta
Best Watercolor Painting, ISI Yogyakarta
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2017
Tulang Rusuk (Malam Jumat Kliwon [MJK] art community), Bentara Budaya, Jakarta, Indonesia
Shenzhen International Art Fair 2017, Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center, Shenzhen, China (with Artemis Art)
de facto, ARTDOOR Space, Taipei, Taiwan (co-organized with Artemis Art)
Art Jakarta 2017, Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Pacific Place, Jakarta, Indonesia (with Artemis Art)
Deepest Imagination, Raintree Gallery House, Yogyakarta,Indonesia
Yogya Annual Art #2 – Bergerak, Bale Banjar Sangkring, Yogyakarta,Indonesia
Yes We Are, Nalarroepa Ruang Seni, Yogyakarta,Indonesia
Putih & Hitam, Syang Art Space, Magelang, Indonesia
We Are 5, Artemis Art at White Box, MAP@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore Contemporary 2017, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore (with Artemis Art)
2016
1001 Kesempatan Pendidikan Untuk Anak Indonesia (Mandiri Art Charity event), Graha Bimasena, Jakarta
Yogya Annual Art #1: Niat!, Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Kenduren #3, Perahu Art Connection, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Transfer Window, MJK Community @ Ruang Dalam, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Season #6, MJK Community @ Indieart House, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Alam-Benda dan Gambar Lainnya, Museum Dan Tanah Liat (MDTL), Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2015
Detik 96: Kedekatan, Jogja Contemporary, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Launch Exhibition, Lancar Jaya Koperasi & Artshop, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
MJK Archive Exhibition, Nalarroepa Ruang Seni, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
SICINCIN ICA Website Launch Exhibition, Nalarroepa Ruang Seni, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Out of Focus, Srisasanti Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2014
Fitur & Figur, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
MJK Group Exhibition, Nalarroepa Ruang Seni, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pameran 120, Tembi Rumah Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Nandur Srawung, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2013
Group Exhibition, Tuban, East Java, Indonesia
Faber-Castell Drawing Exhibition, Singapore
2012
FREEKICK, Royal Square Convention Hall, Surabaya, Indonesia
Agitasi Garuda, Jogja Galery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Drawing Exhibition, Faber-Castell Building, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2011
UPRISING: Detik 96 Reunion #2, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
MEMO #2, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Next Candidates, AJBS Gallery, Surabaya
Bank Mandiri Surabaya Opening Exhibition, Gedung Esa Sampoerna, Surabaya, Indonesia
Maximum City: Jakarta Biennale, Jakarta, Indonesia
East Java Biennale, GO Galery, Surabaya, Indonesia
2010
Berlima, Andi’s Galery @ Jakarta Art District, Jakarta, Indonesia
Soccer Fever, Canna Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Ilustrasi KOMPAS, Bentara Budaya in Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, Jogjakarta, Surabaya and Bali
TRANSFIGURATION, Galery Semarang @ Jakarta Art District, Jakarta, Indonesia
2009
FRESH 4 YOU, Jogja Galery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Up and Hope, D’Peak Artspace, Jakarta, Indonesia
Ilustrasi KOMPAS, Bentara Budaya in Jakarta, Jogjakarta, Solo, Surabaya, and Bali
New Wave, New Power, Linda Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Re-Kontruksi, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Urban Behaviour, Philo Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
Biennale Jogja X: JOGJA JAMMING, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2008
MEMO, Mon Décor Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
A Beautiful Word, V Art Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Biasa Gila, Galery Biasa, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Wong Liya (The Other), Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Emotional Home, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Freedom: Mon Decor Painting Festival, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta and Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia
Re-Union, Detik ’96, Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
FRAGMENTASI, Phillo Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
Expanding Contemporary Realism, Akili Museum Of Art, Jakarta, Indonesia
Contemporary Hero, Tujuh Bintang Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2007
EKSISTEN, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Shot Out FKY, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Boeng Ajo Boeng: 100 Tahun Affandi, Bentara Budaya, Yogjakarta, Indonesia
Tribute to Young Artist, Sangkring Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Porto Folio, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Ibumi, Mon Decor Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Jogja Biennale: Neo-Nation, Jogja Nasional Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2006
Peduli Jogja, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Vice-Versa, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2005
ART For Aceh, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Melihat Jogja, Melia Purosani Hotel, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Group Exhibition, Museum Ulen Sentalu, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pameran Seni Rupa Mahasiswa Indonesia, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia
Ayo Ngguyu, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2004
Pratisara Afandi Adi Karya, ISI Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Drawing dan Puisi, Rumah Seni MUARA, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Citra-Citra Post Human, Galeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
2003
Kelompok 8, Sanggar Bidar Sriwijaya, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Grand Opening Exhibition, Rumah Seni Muara, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Drawing Plus, Rumah Seni Muara, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Group Exhibition, Sanggar Suwung, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2002
Detik 1996, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Fathomless, Mien Galery Yogyakarta, Indonesia
5 Seniman Muda, Galeri Proklamasi, Jakarta, Indonesia
2001
Kelompok 8, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Dies Natalis ISI, ISI Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Philip Morris International Art Award Indonesia, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia
Dialog Multi Rupa II, Sanggar Bidar, Palembang, Indonesia
2000
Gesper 2000, Galeri ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
On-campus Exhibition, Faculty of Fine Art, ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Kartun ISI, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Art Festival, Bizzete Galeri, Jakarta, Indonesia
1999
Sepekan Seni Rupa 1999, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Dialog Multi Rupa, Sanggar Bidar, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Kelompok Detik 1996, Purna Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pratisara Afandi, Galeri ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Jelang Milenium, Hotel Garuda, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
1997 & 1998
Dies Natalis Sketch Exhibition, Galeri ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
On-campus Exhibition, Faculty of Fine Art, ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Bercermin, Sanggar Suwung, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Refleksi Zaman, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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