Near You (Bandung sketch)

NEAR YOU

“What I'm looking for is next door” — at the intersection of memory and history

This work depicts the “invisible connections” hidden in the streets of Bandung, Indonesia. At first glance, it's just a view of the building. But behind that, there is a timeless history and a moment where personal memories intersect.

The motif is a beautiful building that has continued since the Dutch colonial period. Its elegant design symbolizes the fusion of the West and the East, and lives in today's city. Also, the adjoining Museum of Asia and Africa is an iconic place that connects different regions through international conferences. This work is not simply a depiction of a landscape, but provides a perspective that explores connections from the past.

There is a connection in this landscape that transcends time. Once upon a time, there was a photo studio run by Japanese people at this location, and relatives worked there. Photo studios are places that leave people's memories in shape, and they played an important role in recording the city's history. However, the existence of the building was unknown at the time, and later investigations revealed that the location was a photo studio. Exactly “what I'm looking for is right next door” — places I had unwittingly passed through were actually linked to my personal roots and memories.

This work unearths fragments of memory buried in the cityscape and depicts moments where the past leads to the present. A personal story is woven into history, and a casual landscape is transformed into a “place with a hidden story.” I would be happy if viewers were able to remember their own memories and historical connections through this work, and gain a new perspective.

In a corner of the city where past and present intersect, there may be a story you haven't noticed yet.

The important things are always by your side