Berubah Benyah - Shattering Dreams and Reality at the Deus Gallery

Oct 07, 2021

‘Berubah Benyah’, an exhibition by Andre Yoga, Dea Rahajeng, and Rama Indirawan, is very different to all the shows we’ve done before. And we’ve done a lot over our eleven year history.

For a year, that’s had as many high points as Charlize Theron’s Mad Max hair do, the re-opening of the Deus Gallery came as something of a complete shock to most of us.

First off, with the exception of one show we managed to slip in, the Deus Gallery’s been in lockdown for eighteen months. We ain’t ever had a break this long, it's like we had an arm chopped off! There was also dialing back the unveiling time to five PM in the arvo, the weird thing about that was we were all dressed up and it was still light outside but it did give us four solid hours before the curfew kicks in here. There was also the fact it was a Saturday night (well actually afternoon?!), not a Friday, the day of the week we normally open the gallery. Mind you, most didn’t notice this one though.

Which brings us to the most important difference, the art and the artists. Our blank gallery has been transmuted into this conspicuous composite of the three; photographs, distortions and installations are by Dea, word painting, and word play, that would be Rama, and paintings of Indonesian icons and memory collages they are by Andre. Three polarised pieces of a puzzle, perfectly fitting, that just works so bloody well together.

The name of their show was derived by adding the Indonesian word Berubah, meaning change, to the Balinese word, Benyah, meaning shattered or broken into pieces. The artists offered up their dialogues on the transformation of destruction through their paintings, photographs, writings, and all that’s in between.

A statement from the artists about the show.

“When a person, place or thing reaches a higher level, they can transform one of two ways, for the better or the worst. Berubah Benyah explores the later of the two, the bad. We analyse the changes that happen to people, places or other things. Examples of transformation that can lead to destruction take on many guises, for people we see it manly in fame, fortune, power, and status. For places and things through development, exploitation and disenfranchisement.”

“This exhibition is a response and a reflection of the Berubah Benyah phenomenon here in Bali, Indonesia. But it is both a local and global issue, we’re not unique here. It is happening more and more often, and across many different cultures around the world, Berubah Benyah is a shattering transformation that can break anyone or anything into pieces.”

Dotted about the room, interspersed with their art, they’d inserted a number of sensory interactive elements; boxes full of wool, rice and playdough where you insert your hand, an internally lit box with a slot where you take the role of voyeur, a cassette Walkman to listen to soundscapes with no start nor finish, and an old manual typewriter where you get to clank out your own personal message to no one in particular, one stroke at a time. All of which allowed the visitors to nod, remember, interact. It left most with a knowing look or smile.

The gallery filled as the sun set. No one specific group or crowd but people drawn from diverse backgrounds, starved of cultural elements, of mental intimacy, of experiencing culture with a capital C. This wasn’t just another bar or restaurant opening but a forum of discussion and dissection, but that’s not to say smiles and laughter didn’t ricochet about the night.

The right music was something they’d known all along they would have to have a hand in, and Maira Yamanaka didn’t disappoint, working her magic on the decks. She’s a talented DJ friend of the artists who they had invited down to help gel things together. More and more arrived, filling the gallery and spilling into the backyard, both women and men dressed for the occasion. Nine o’clock came around all too soon.

The show runs in the gallery at the Deus Ex Machina Temple of Enthusiasm from the 2nd until the 31 October 2021.

Be there, see, feel, and reflect.

#berubahbenyah

Andre Yoga
Dea Rahajeng
Rama Indirawan

Maira Yamanaka

Photos by Didit Prasetyo Adiwibowo

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!