Cavin-Morris Gallery is thrilled to welcome Imam Sucahyo (b. 1978 in East Java) to the gallery, celebrating the occasion with a one-person exhibition of some past and present works on paper and canvas.  It is his first in depth presentation in the United States and we hope it will be the first of many. Included will also be some of his contemporary shadow puppets created for storytelling by the artist.  Inspired by the puppetry tradition of his country, Sucahyo creates his paper puppets spontaneously, without predefined characterization. It is the first time they have been shown in this hemisphere. 

With his work the gallery continues its specialization and exploration of visionary artists including Angkasapura, Ilija Bosilj Bašičević, William Fields, Nicole Frobusch, Solange Knopf, M’onma, JB Murray, Izabella Ortiz, Frances Smokowski, Gregory Van Maanen, Anna Zemánková, and Henriette Zéphir.

Imam lives with a deeply religious family.  He says: Right now, I only believe that there is something that governs this universe (which others call God), but to me, that great force cannot be explained—it is beyond human comprehension. My beliefs may change in line with the truths I come to understand through my journey toward awareness.

He is keenly attuned to perceive natural and spiritual phenomena that connect him to the dazzling life and death performances of Nature around him.  He uses the tools of the art world and of tradition to invent a visual language to fulfill his role as a peripatetic observer and wanderer through all aspects of his Indonesian homeground. 

It would be too easy to throw labels on him and on his work.  His vision is so singular and powerful that it defies any sort of art world definition.  His work is not mainstream intentionality.  It would be easy to tie him down with the overused cliches of contemporary art and outsider art.  He may seem to deliberately utilize horror vacui but the truth is that everywhere we look in this world is horror vacui.  We are the ones that delineate its borders.  Sucahyo contains internal and external multitudes.  He decides his own borders.  He flies freely in his own matrixes of detail.  He absorbs color and redistributes it in such a glorious way that we take it in easily, naturally accepting the jazz of his wide palate with its shifting and intricate music.  His solitude is that of the mystic.  How lucky we are to have him amongst us.  

For further information please contact info@cavinmorris.com or call us at 212-226-3768.