Repurposing Paradise

“Repurposing: Paradise” delves into a contemplative review of Bali’s “paradise,” a concept historically laden with contradictions due to its oscillation between global capitalist attractions and the island’s complex cultural tapestry. This exhibition challenges the superficial acceptance of Bali merely as a commodity, leveraging theoretical frameworks from Dean MacCannell (1976), Erik Cohen (1998), and Edward M. Bruner (2005) to dissect staged authenticity and cultural commodification, urging a sophisticated understanding of local interactions with the idea of ‘Bali Paradise’, the ‘Island of the Gods’ concept as predominantly an invention of the tourism industry—a viewpoint that simplifies the complex dynamics between local cultures and global tourism narratives.

“Repurposing: Paradise” is inspired by Michel Picard’s (2017) analysis, which argues for the recognition of local inhabitants not as passive objects under the touristic gaze but as active subjects who articulate their cultural presentations. These are intricately shaped by their self-referential systems and their interpretations of tourists’ desires, providing a nuanced counter-argument to perceptions that local engagement with the paradise narrative is purely dismissive or resistant. Picard’s assertion that “Balinese culture actively engages with and shapes the tourist gaze” underpins the complex interaction between maintaining authenticity and the commodification of culture. 

Artists:

Citra Sasmita
Dewa Ngakan Ardana
Faelerie
Filippo Sciascia
Gede Sukarya
Jemana Murti
Mella Jaarsma
Nyoman Darmawan
Pande Wardina
Sarah Mosca
Todd McMillan
Wayan Upadana

Curated by Krisna Sudharma

Presented by Nonfrasa and Amandari