Working fluidly across painting, sculptural installation, embroidery, sound, and scent, Sasmita invites visitors on a symbolic journey through the 90-metre-long gallery.
‘The unique curved shape [of the gallery] made me feel familiar with the sacred symbols that I inherited from Balinese culture,’ Sasmita explains. Her connection to the space inspired a site-specific response, drawing on the cyclical philosophies of reincarnation and spiritual fulfilment deeply embedded in Balinese traditions. ‘I envisioned a cyclical repetition: the concept of journey and reincarnation integrates well with the flow and shape of The Curve.’
Sasmita’s practice challenges hierarchies of power, colonial legacies, and patriarchal structures. Into Eternal Land reinvents traditional Balinese iconographies and craft traditions, particularly the Kamasan painting technique, historically practiced by men to depict Hindu epics. Reclaiming and subverting this practice, Sasmita positions women as central, autonomous figures in post-patriarchal worlds. ‘Art has significantly changed my life as a woman raised under the pressures of patriarchal culture in Bali,’ she says. ‘I want to expand my knowledge and express ideas that prioritise women in central roles, as part of my effort to strengthen the existence of women not only in visual production but also in the production of ideas.’
The exhibition also grapples with Bali’s colonial history, especially the lingering impact of Dutch cultural and material extraction. ‘The objects, ritual tools, and important manuscripts taken from Indonesia by the Dutch colonisers are the foundation of my research,’ Sasmita notes. Her work embraces gaps in historical knowledge, exploring ‘limitless possibilities’ in reinterpreting her cultural heritage and reclaiming erased narratives.
Nature and spirituality are integral to Into Eternal Land, grounded in the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasises harmony between humans, the divine, and nature. ‘Rituals are one form of reconciliation with nature so that it does not become angry due to the mistakes made by humans,’ Sasmita explains. This connection manifests in syncretic imagery that intertwines cosmological figures with earthly forms, evoking reverence for the natural world while confronting its fragility and precarity.
Collaboration with local artists has become central to Sasmita’s practice. For this commission she has worked with women embroiderers from West Bali, extending her exploration of the island’s cultural and geopolitical history. Composer Agha Praditya Yogaswara provides an evocative soundscape, blending electronic music with ritualistic tones to transform The Curve into a meditative space of spiritual pilgrimage. ‘We collaborate with the desire to bring The Curve space to life as a journey toward spiritual enlightenment through contemporary art,’ she says.
Citra Sasmita: Into Eternal Land, Until 21 April, The Curve
