Henri Affandi (he/they) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Affandi’s practice and research explore themes such as post-colonialism, migration, identity, and indigenous liberation, particularly in Indonesia. Utilising performance-based and contemporary elements of art-making, they seek to reclaim the art space as an act of decolonisation and resistance against late-stage capitalism.
Weaving symbols and metaphors into the material, Affandi’s works often invoke juxtaposing double entendre that the viewers may decipher from its materiality; for example, the batik textile as a symbol of ethnic identity as well as being the product of Javanese imperialism. Through drawing connections between history, land, and people, Affandi reframes the archives of Indonesian history as a critique of blind nationality and chauvinism, provoking the viewers into questioning the canon and the propaganda; the colonised and the coloniser; the oppressed and the oppressor.
Henri earned their degree in BA(Hon) Fine Art: Painting from Wimbledon College of Arts in 2021. Affandi has been involved in a number of exhibitions, including a solo exhibition at Huxley-Parlour Gallery, a feature performance at ICAD12 Jakarta, and the If Things Grow Wrong exhibition at Museum de Lakenhal. Affandi is also a member of Unamed Collective and School of the Damned since 2022.
Education
BA (Hons) Fine Art: Painting
Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London. 2018 to 2021.
Solo Exhibitions
Re-Rooted, The Art House, London UK. December 2022 to February 2023.
Roots, Huxley-Parlour Gallery, London UK. April 2022 to June 2022.
Paradise Island, LCF High Holborn, London UK. February 2020 to March 2020.
Group Exhibitions
The Ingram Prize 2024, Unit 1 Gallery Workshop, London UK. 13-17 November 2024.
Hoówen, Hypha Studios 8-9 Dover Street, London UK. 11 October to 1 November 2024.
Rhizomizing en Route, Deptford Lounge, London UK. 15 June to 13 July 2024.
ICAD 13: By the Bay, Indonesian Design District, Jakarta ID. 26 October to 19 November 2023.
Diaspora & Belonging, Mother London, London UK. March 2023.
Green Lunar New Year, Museum of the Home, London UK. 28 January 2023.
ICAD 12: Fragmenting Yesterday Reshaping Tomorrow, Grandkemang, Jakarta ID. October to November 2022.
Deptford X Festival, Deptford, London UK. 16-25 September 2022.
De-Oriented, Ugly Duck Bermondsey, London UK. 21-25 April 2022.
If Things Grow Wrong, Museum de Lakenhal, Leiden NL. October 2021 to March 2022.
Final Notice, BA Fine Arts Degree Show at Wimbledon College of Arts, London UK. 21-26 June 2021.
Tonawi Mana, online exhibition, www.udeido.com. July 2020 to August 2020.
Ninth World, Peckham Safehouse 1, London UK. 18-20 March 2020.
Penultimatum, Copeland Gallery, London UK. 6-8 March 2020.
Indonesia Through Your Eyes, Imperial College London, UK. February 2020.
Wimbledon Fine Art Festival, Wimbledon College of Arts, London UK. 8 November 2019.
Possible Future, London College of Communication, UK. April to May 2018.
Performances
Declaration of War, Leg Room, London UK. 15 February 2024.
Chinese Lesson, The Art House, London UK. 28 September 2023.
Unamed Visa Service, Leg Room, London UK. 13 July 2023
Babirusa, Nomadic Box, London UK. 26 March 2023.
Tea Party, Christie’s Lates, London UK. 26 January 2023.
Between the Trenches, Koppel Project Bank, London UK. 25 January 2023.
If It was My Trolley, hARTslane Gallery, London UK. 3 December 2022.
Ending the Void, Hundred Years Gallery, London UK. 7 October 2022.
Home | Away, The Bhavan, London UK. 21-26 May 2022
P.S. P.S., curated by Primordial Soup at Venue MOT, London UK. 16 January 2020.
Sunday Service, curated by Vicious Collective at Stour Space, London UK. 1 December 2019.
Awards & Collectives
Living Land Collective, active member since 2024.
Unamed Collective, active member since 2022.
School of the Damned, Class of 2022-24.
Finalist, The Ingram Prize, London UK. 2024.
Finalist, 7th Bandung Contemporary Art Award, Bandung ID. 2022.
Winner, Huxley-Parlour Gallery fourbythree, London UK. 2022.
Shortlist, an effort winter art residency, London UK. 2021.
Press & Interviews
Suboart Magazine, Issue no. 32. 18 November 2024.
Sardjono, Didan, ‘ICAD dan IDD Hadirkan “ICAD by the Bay” di PIK 2’, on asrinesia, 27 October 2023.
WhisperZone, ‘Infinite layers: I am not I can be you and me’, 26 November 2022.
Khan, Tabish, ‘The Top 5 Exhibitions to see in London in early June’, on fadmagazine.com, 5 June 2022.
Artizan Radio, ‘Interview with Henri Affandi’, 31 May 2022.
Zheng, YJ Elaine. 'London Gallery Weekend 2022: Exhibitions to See', on ocula.com, 11 May 2022.
Mallett, Evan, 'Blacklisted', ATO Magazine: Spring Issue, April 2021
Firdaus, Febriana, 'Global protests throw spotlight on alleged police abuses in West Papua', on theguardian.com, 11 June 2020.
Mambor, Victor. 'Ketika pernyataan Mahfud MD tentang korban HAM Papua menjadi sebuah karya seni', on jubi.co.id, 2 June 2020.
henriaffandistudio@gmail.com