READ ESSAY: "When The Trees Fall"
Maryanto’s involvement with the community in Yogyakarta is highly perceptible throughout his works. His silkscreen print, Palm oil in daily life (2023) responds critically to cultural debates in the Asia Pacific region. In this work, the palm plant is engulfed by a deluge of logos from multi-corporations and household brand names not foreign to us. From Oreo to Nestle, these products all contain palm oil that could have originated from these plantations in Indonesia. Maryanto urges us to acknowledge how ubiquitous palm oil has become in our lives, perhaps even unwittingly. Recalling the sensibilities of a makeshift signboard by activists and protestors, Palm oil in daily life is imbued with the same ardour as the acts of valour these indigenous communities are making to protect their forests. Sales from this work will help raise funds for palm oil deforestation awareness efforts.