“My work is about bringing back the soul of a child that may have been lost.”
Heartfelt paintings reminding us it takes a village to raise a child
Indonesian artist Roby Dwi Antono is best known for his surreal and macabre portraits of manga-esque, wide-eyed children. Inspired by many pools of art history from the Renaissance to Superflat, he creates pictures that feel like a children's storybook or dark fairytale – cute and enticing, weird and grotesque. As a kid, Roby's father was a blacksmith, and he would often draw with charcoal outside his father's studio, copying characters from manga, film and TV. This animation style carried over into his adult paintings, which propelled him onto the international art scene in the mid-2010s. But...
Indonesian artist Roby Dwi Antono is best known for his surreal and macabre portraits of manga-esque, wide-eyed children. Inspired by many pools of art history from the Renaissance to Superflat, he creates pictures that feel like a children's storybook or dark fairytale – cute and enticing, weird and grotesque. As a kid, Roby's father was a blacksmith, and he would often draw with charcoal outside his father's studio, copying characters from manga, film and TV. This animation style carried over into his adult paintings, which propelled him onto the international art scene in the mid-2010s. But as Roby has matured as an artist, he's strived more and more to uncover the spirit of his inner child. Over time, his brushstrokes have loosened and become more colourful and expressive: "recalling my childhood memories, when I just drew using my hand freely without thinking about art rules, style, or anything else."
Then, in 2023, the tables turned for Roby as he became a father for the first time. The gaze of childhood suddenly swung back around as he found himself in the care of a new life. "Becoming a parent is both exciting and thrilling for me, and this phase has changed my perspective towards life," he explains. "It has made me realise that I can't do everything by myself – I need my partner, my family, and my friends." Needless to say, this huge life experience spilt over into Roby's painting. For his 2024 solo exhibition TUK at Almine Rech, he exhibited a body of work inspired by the joys and toils of being a new Dad. The canvases overflow with the full-on energy that it takes to raise a baby. Warm colours, paint splatters and many smiling faces perfectly encompass the warmth, fulfilment and messiness of family, community and love.
Bio
Roby Dwi Antono (he/him) was born in 1990 in Semarang, Indonesia, and now lives and works in nearby Yogyakarta.
Exhibitions
He presented his first exhibition outside of Indonesia titled Southern Monster, Northern Child, in Manila in 2016, and has since exhibited throughout the world - from Frankfurt to Los Angeles.
At Auction
A painting titled Lonesome Hero #3 sold for $30,000 in 2021 as part of Artsy's Art Keeps Nonprofits Going IV auction, almost ten times its estimate.
