toni kanwa hand carves 1000 needle-sized wooden sculptures

toni kanwa hand carves 1000 needle-sized wooden sculptures
cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

intuitively carved and intricately crafted, the 1000 needle-sized wooden sculptures that indonesian artist toni kanwa has handmade are a testament to his trademark, ritualistic creative process. ‘cosmology’, currently exhibited at the singapore biennale 2013, is a population of tiny talisman-like figures situated on a lit table at the center of a gallery space. carefully positioned and posed, each diminutive model bears its own energy and character; some stagnant and poised, while others contour fluidly and rhythmically. the immersive and interactive installation asks viewers to the surface in order to closer inspect the mass of miniature bodies. magnifying glasses placed nearby highlight the microscopic details, which are nearly impossible to view with the naked eye. informed by past investigations and cultural practices in indonesia, his methodical process of sculpting each object translates into a body of work that expresses a worldview of nature, spirituality, and the macro and micro cosmos.

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist

cosmology of life, 2013
installation, wood; dimensions variable
artist collection; singapore biennale 2013 commission
image courtesy of the artist