Iwan Wijono
Iwan Wijono was born in Solo, Central Java. While studying international law (graduated from Indonesian Islamic University) and painting (Indonesian Institute Of Art) in Jogjakarta (Indonesia), Wijono became active in the pro-democracy movement against the Soeharto regime. In the 1990’s he became known as a pro-democracy street performer with (or without) political demonstration. Besides a political awareness,Wijono gained an aesthetic understanding that performance art was a milieu that could be undertaken anywhere and was not restricted by exhibition space, public or even the time of the activity. His early performance art interventions evolved to include arts events both locally and internationally throughout Asia, Europe and the Americas.
“PUBLIC! I think public is dead! The public is dependant on the market that is controlled by multinational corporations, IMF, World Bank, and includes United Nations, Stock Exchange, TVs, political issues/rumors,etc! Public have no power anymore, all controlled by market and weapon, in other way- controlled by fear and consume!” Iwan Wijono.
Iwan Wijono has participated in several important art events, including: LIVE – Performance Art Biennale Vancouver (2007), In The Context Of Art-The Differences,Warsaw,Poland 2006, FOI- Future Of Imagination (Singapore ’03), ASIATOPIA Performance Art Festival (Bangkok ? Chiangmai, Thailand ’99,’02,’05,07), NIPAF – Nippon International Performance Art Festival (City Tour Japan ’99, ’04,’10), Havana Biennale (Cuba, ’01), 7a*11d International Performance Art Festival (Toronto, Canada ’02), RIAP ? Recountre Internacional Arte de Performance (Quebec City,Canada ’04), Novena Muestra Internacional de Performance (Mexico City,Mexico ’00), PAN ASIA ‘10 Gwangju, Incheon (Korea).
Wijono, president of the contemporary art organization in Jogjakarta, Performance Klub, which is organized monthly action art event as WED ACTION in ’03 ? ’05, AMBULANCE ART FESTIVAL ’05, annual action art activism in public communities as PERFURBANCE ? Performance Art Urban Festival, beside another public action art event in down town as CHAOS DAB! Widjono is member of TAV The Artists Village (Singapore), member international performance art movement New World Disorder International, redaction board INTER arte actuel magazine, Quebec City (Canada), registered as spiritual healer in the World Pranic Healing Foundation.