“We grew up learning about male heroism. In traditional texts, female characters appear only as objects of conquest and sexuality,” says Citra Sasmita, one of the most game-changing Balinese artists working today. With her practice, she is challenging the ground of a stale societal order:
“I’m creating counter-narratives by placing female characters as the protagonists in mythological stories,” she explains.
Her latest work is a three-panel painting, dense with fiery figures. It’s the sixth installment of her ongoing Timur Merah Project, which explores the heritage narratives from Indonesia and Bali. She focuses on the canonical texts that form the basis of stories such as the Babad Panj – a cycle of Javanese stories centred around the legendary prince of the same name from East Java, Indonesia.
