The Great Archipelago
The Embassy of Italian and Italian Cultural Institute with Cittadella dell’arte Michelangelo Pistoletto Foundation,
at Kayu Lucie Fontaine and Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets, Bali. Indonesia.
(31 October – 9 November 2018)
  • Exhibition View Courtesy of Kayu Lucie Fontaine Photo by Evelyn Pritt

The Great Archipelago

*“Sustainability Through Differences” is organised by the Embassy of Italy, and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with Cittadellarte, Pistoletto Foundation, Kayu and Setiadarma House of Masks and Puppets Jakarta.

The exhibition entitled “the Great Archipelago”, inaugurated on the 31st October 2018 is a group exhibition of twelve international artists: Michelangelo Pistoletto, Arahmaiani, Dora Budor, Ashley Bickerton, Marco Cassani, Rafram Chaddad + Rirkrit Tiravanija, Fendry Ekel, Michal Helfman, Rochelle Goldberg, Filippo Sciascia and Entang Wiharso. Inspired by the work of Michelangelo Pistoletto, the exhibition reflects on the concept of the table as a domestic object and as a symbol of union.

The title of the exhibition refers to Pistoletto’s artwork, “Il Grande Arcipelago” (The Great Archipelago), a mirror table, designed specifically for the occasion and produced in Indonesia. The table represents the seas that touch Indonesia and it is part of the mirror table series that Pistoletto made for symbolising the sea as the melting pot of different cultures.

The exhibition is deeply inspired by the work of Michelangelo Pistoletto and reflects on the concept of the table as a domestic object and as a symbol of union. The exhibition will feature eleven tables designed by the aforementioned artists and produced in Indonesia. The tables exhibited will host one hundred guests during the aforementioned three-day event. After the conclusion of the forum all the tables will remain on view for the entire duration of the exhibition. Furthermore, the title of the exhibition refers to the title of Michelangelo Pistoletto’s artwork, Il Grande Arcipelago [The Great Archipelago], a mirror table conceived by the artist for this occasion and produced in Indonesia. The table represents the seas that touch Indonesia and it is part of the mirror table series that Pistoletto made and which looks at the sea as the ultimate cultural melting pot, a symbol of meeting between different cultures.

Kayu is pleased to present “The Great Archipelago,” its eighth project, which consists of an international group exhibition. The exhibition is part of the first “Rebirth Forum – Sustainability Through Differences,”* a three-day event – 29, 30, 31 October – which aim is to create a platform for public and private entities, individuals and institutions, engaged in daily practices of sustainability and coming from different fields: from energy to food, from production to intercultural dialogue, from design to agriculture, from culture to health.