Banny Jayanata. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤

About

The Back Room, in collaboration with ROH (@rohprojects), proudly presents 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤, a solo exhibition by Indonesian artist Banny Jayanata (@bannyjstudio). The series of new paintings by Banny (b. 1983, Surabaya, Indonesia) linger in the uneasy space between ruin and tenderness, the result of reflections in nature during his month-long residency at Rimbun  Dahan. The solo exhibition is a first in many ways: it is Banny’s first solo exhibition in Malaysia, his first time at an artist’s residency, and it is our first time collaborating with our friends ROH, who are based in Jakarta.

Anchoring the exhibition are two large canvases—each stretching 2  metres high and over 3  metres wide—that were produced within the lush confines of Rimbun Dahan.

While inspired by Romantic ideals of nature, Banny’s work must nevertheless entreat with the contradictions of the Anthropocene. Elegance is shadowed by dread: soft palettes conceal desperate grimaces, half sunk creatures, faceless screams. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 dwells in these tensions, each stroke a gesture of tenderness amid a fractured ecology.

We invite you to join us for the opening of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 this 16 May 2025 (Friday) from 7pm onwards.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤
A solo exhibition by Banny Jayanata
16 May – 1 June 2025
The Back Room, Kuala Lumpur

Opening reception:
Friday, 16 May 2025 from 7pm onwards

On view:
Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 6pm
(closed Monday & Tuesday)

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Exhibition identity • Kenta.Works (@kenta.works)
Text • Ong Kar Jin (@duriandemocracy)
With thanks • ROH (@rohprojects) and Rimbun Dahan (@rimbundahan)