A captivating spectacle of evocative brushwork and striking colours, ‘Eyes Wide Open’ is an intimate exploration into the psychology of colour. With each brushstroke laid upon each other in various combinations of pastel hues like Rehat and Equity, or the earthy tones of Cohesion, there are no limitations in Riswari’s polychromatic universe. The aesthetic phenomena of her works, quite literally, is an eye-opening experience to the expressive potential of colour.

–

Scattered across each piece are crayon ‘scribbles’ that dance freely on the canvas without restraint. Drawing from past childhood memories spent drawing with crayons, Riswari’s works have a child-like, naïve quality that heightens the raw, instinctual style of her oeuvre. Varying textures of crayon are applied on gestural strokes of paint, playing on the tension between stroke, colour and composition. Within each one of her works is a multifaceted world that invites you to experience emotions versed in colour. A fine line between reckless abandon and artfully constructed chaos, the visceral nature of Riswari’s scenes speak of her innate artistry and her sensitivity to colour and its emotional tenor.

–

In the fabric of Riswari’s oeuvre lies a common thread- the Javanese philosophy, ‘Jagat Alit’, a term that describes humans as an inseparable part of the universe. Using it as an approach to understand how small, microscopic events can reveal the natural order of the world, Riswari uses colour to explore and expand her understanding of the universe.

–

Works such as Muladhara and Time to Time are two such examples. Created during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the paintings are the culmination of humankind’s instinctual response to a global crisis. In Time to Time, pastel lilac is in stark contrast with deep magenta and brown ochre hues, showcasing the unearthing of creative ventures in the pandemic turbulence. On the other hand, the magenta unity of Muladhara captures the intense, overwhelming feeling of an unprecedented future. Through colour alone, Riswari translates emotions into a universal language that transcends boundaries of language, time, and space.

–

‘Eyes Wide Open’ is a series that reveals a new language written in colour. For Riswari, the viewer’s intrinsic response to her pastiche of colours establishes a dialogue between the audience and artwork. It is this response that offers a space for viewers to reflect and meditate on their feelings in the prismatic cosmos that Riswari has enacted. In her universe, colours are the mirrors of reality, and its through colours that our eyes become wide open.