FX HARSONO

In this new body of work, Harsono reactivates his iconic imagery and objects, including pistols, Chinese-Indonesian archives, and the crown of thorns, in response to Indonesia’s current sociopolitical situation, which resemble his experiences during the New Order era: the increased presence of the military in civil society, the shrinking space of freedom of speech, and the state’s denial of the history of violence experienced by Chinese-Indonesians.

Originally molded from kerupuk (crackers), the ceramic pistols now signal a harsher, more pervasive militarisation in civilian life. Combined with Harsono’s personal archives in canvas reproductions, the motif exposes how systemic power represses Chinese-Indonesians. Concurrently, the crown of thorns reframes official identity papers—documents that simultaneously grant recognition and enforce discrimination—as instruments of torture and control.

Ambang / Threshold presents an exploration of identity, memory, and violence by reinstating and transforming Harsono’s own iconic imagery and objects, unveiling a body of work that not only conveys a compelling narrative but also affirms Harsono’s seminal stature within the landscape of Indonesian contemporary art.