Dynamic Contrast

born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, 1972. M. Irfan unsettles abstract painting by weaving it together with everyday objects, infusing his canvases with a strange, surreal atmosphere. His works often present misplaced or grotesque forms, chairs, tools, or figures that seem oddly out of place, yet within this strangeness lies the potential for fresh interpretation. In his sculptures and installations too, distorted objects invite viewers to feel both unease and amusement, as if oscillating between fear and play. After moving to Yogyakarta, Irfan studied metal craft at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) but soon expanded beyond the confines of material and medium. As a founding member of Kelompok Seni Rupa Jendela, and an active participant in communities such as Sakato Art Community and the collaborative Jalanpulang, he has played a key role in shaping Indonesia’s contemporary art scene. His solo exhibitions include Nirkias at Rubanah Underground Hub, Jakarta (2019); Colouring My Word at Fine Art Center, Eslite Bookstore, Taipei (2013); and Pameranku di Soemardja at Galeri Soemardja, Bandung (2011). His participation in group exhibitions began with the Sakato Group in Yogyakarta in 1995, followed by Ecstaticus Mundi at Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Bandung (2002); ARTJOG 2020: Resilience; Biennale Jogja #17: Titen (2023); and ARTSUBS 2024: Ways of Dreaming.