The artistic practice of Kei Imazu combines traditional artistic techniques and digital technology. Her works explore history as non-linear and layered narratives, blurring the boundaries between memory, power, myth, fact and fiction. Moving from Japan to Indonesia in 2018 changed the way Imazu views and understands history. In her own words:

“Here, history lives in the land, in rituals, in gestures and oral traditions.
I encountered a circular sense of time, where the past coexists with the present,
rather than being confined to a linear timeline.”

Her first museum-scale solo exhibition in Indonesia, The Sea is Barely Wrinkled is constructed as an imaginary landscape where different timelines blend into a surface. The exhibition departs from her research into the history of Sunda Kelapa/Old Batavia. She explores the legacy of the colonial era and its impact on the present-day environmental crisis along the coast of Jakarta.

This exhibition also highlights the relationships between humans and nature. Imazu invites the audience to rethink the way modern advancements shape our views of the land and the sea. In particular, she reconsiders the nuance of traditional knowledge, passed down through myths and rituals, that might offer a relevant perspective to rekindle this relationship.

This session features the artist in a presentation and casual conversation with the museum curator. Together, we will explore Imazu's thoughts on art, history, and how her experiences living and working in Indonesia have changed her views on life.

Saturday, 24 May 2025
02.00–04.30 PM
Ruang Gagasan Museum MACAN

This program will be delivered mainly in Japanese, with an Indonesian interpreter. The program is accessible to the public with a valid museum entry ticket.

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