Life is Full of Stories

born in East Java, 1970. Joni Ramlan’s paintings are characterised by dynamic lines and intuitive use of colour, creating an impression of depth and dimension. His artistic explorations move fluidly between the atmosphere of old cities and abstractions of figures and natural objects. Objects such as bicycles, guitars, and maps often appear, yet beneath their forms lies a broader search for meaning: a quiet reflection on the theme of human life itself. Born in Sidoarjo, East Java, on 21 June 1970, Joni has developed a distinguished career. His solo exhibitions include Menggantung Masa Lalu at Orasis Art Gallery, Surabaya (2009), and Subsiding Memories at Puri Art Gallery, Jakarta (2010). His works have also reached international audiences through art fairs across Asia, including Art Taipei, Taiwan (2016), the Korea International Art Fair, South Korea (2014), and the Beijing International Art Biennale, China (2017), where one of his works entered the permanent collection of the National Museum of China, Beijing. Beyond these, Joni has actively engaged in group exhibitions, such as Homo Ludens: Play in Imagination at Yun Art Center, Jakarta (2022), and the Singapore Contemporary Art Forum at Suntec Singapore (2016), among numerous others. Now based in Mojokerto, East Java, Joni has received recognition both at home and abroad. He was a finalist in the Jakarta Art Award (2006) and the Indonesia Art Award (2008), and in 2012 he was honoured by the Governor of East Java with the title of “Outstanding Artist."