Virtual displacement: swimming in the virtual space

Virtual displacement: swimming in the virtual space

(Introducing Rusnoto)

The artworks displayed in Taman Budaya Yogyakarta’s exhibition room are bind in a quite sexy theme, “Virtual Displacement”, which literary could mean as “misplaced virtual space”. This theme quite intrigued few means or at least triggered certain consciousness to make confirmations. Rusnoto, the man behind this exhibition project, also uses this exhibition as his final assignment in order to fulfill the criteria of completing his graduate program in Yogyakarta – Indonesia Arts Institute. Virtual world is the exact picture of today’s reality, which now became a must on behalf of anything; starting from only on as a lifestyle, up to inevitable needs. The phenomenon of sporadic installations of wi-fi’s, hotspots and Blackberry, for example, shows the tension between lifestyle demands and functional demands. In the imaginary world, we can imagine how chaotic the spaces around us because of the clamant communication traffic and noncable information.

In association with “Virtual Displacement”, I question; is it really the place that doesn’t fit the position? Is the theme really used as a scalpel for questions such as: is it true that what happens is a disorder (related to the word “displacement”) or is an order in the virtual world? If chaotic disorder happens, what is the cause, why and for what; vice versa, if an order is what it is, what, why and for what does that happen?

Needless to say that this writing will not elaborate or read what Rusnoto had been working and now presented in this exhibition space. The artworks in this space could simply said as a representation of Rusnoto’s personal experience of swimming in virtual spaces. From that area, he found several realities with its paradoxes’.

For me, it would be interesting to travel in Rusnoto’s mind and then chop the creative tensions in producing the creative the artworks based on such thoughts. Both are about how to articulate ideas through words and visuals. The challenge is: how clear the words-based articulations and how strong (how ambiguous) is the visual-based articulations. On the first one, there’s the demand of being as clear and as bright as possible in order to avoid double meanings. Meanwhile, the second part demands the contrary; how it could appear as ambiguous as it could to invite or open the space and chance of layered meanings.

We know how complex and uneasy it is to complete both —with each diametrical difference in character and achievements— at the same time. Nonetheless, this is the logical consequence of a creative process in the academic space. Ratio and intuition, clear and ordered expressions; all must be grind at the same time. Will Rusnoto make it? Together with the examiners, I am seeing thoroughly and making confirmations to our judgment. As for all of you viewers, you have the same space and chance to make your own judgment.

Happy presenting for Rusnoto; and viewers, do appreciate critically!

Suwarno Wisetrotomo