Biography
Rangga Aputra

I work as if I was remembering and writing random memories as a form of gradual self-digging. Memories of the past become personal things to dig deeper and are then sorted and gathered around the artwork.

- The Artist

Born in 1995 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Currently living and working in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

 

Since his childhood, Rangga Aputra has been interested in painting: painting is purepleasure for him. He started to paint when he was at Senior High School. Influenced by some important exhibitions in Yogyakarta, today Rangga has already joined plenty of shows in his country and has also been awarded in 2012.

Anselm Kiefer, George Baselitz, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Dubuffet, Antoni Tàpies and Zao Wouki are some of “legend” artists (as he likes to call them) who have inspired him. Most of Rangga’s artworks highlight his interests for daily issues such as personal routines.

Monochrome colors are his typical landmark, whereas colors bring the nuance of deep reflection. Rangga uses different tools, depending on the needs of the visual language to be delivered. Alongside acrylic and oil paint, he likes to play with texture and explore new materials such as asphalt, bitumen, car paint and spray, to get different results such as the color of the soil.

 

 

Rangga Aputra. The colors of the iris

 
I have created 2 series of artworks in the past 3 years.
 
The first series is “Catatan Tekstur” (“Record of texture”) which concerns artworks connected to memories of the past. These artworks try to reveal layers of memories about things from the past that really imprint on our mind and subconscious, interpreting the background layers as the past. On the other hand, the outer layer represents the present, with lines shaping visuals and letters spontaneously.The texture etchings are instead seen as a past that cannot be completely dismantled. Memoriesremain in the present. However, it’s impossible to remember all the past and to scratch the entire the surface, because it quickly dries, and cannot be modified, like time, which cannot turn back andcannot be changed.
 
The second series is “Bias Cahaya” (“Record of Refraction”).
Exploring memories in the experimental area and remembering when the pupils of the eyes enlarge while seeing the sunlight. Being in a dark room after staring at the sun causes our eyes to give rise to imaginary colors and irregular lines due to ocular diaphragm (the iris). It seems to be among the fireflies.
Artworks created by undefined blocks of color and absurd shapes, superimposed on each other, are an effort to remember this condition, and to express spontaneous and common objects so that their existence is appreciated."
 
- Rangga Aputra
Exhibitions
Works
  • Rangga Aputra, Not far from home, 2025
    Not far from home, 2025
  • Rangga Aputra, Miracle of refraction in black, 2025
    Miracle of refraction in black, 2025
  • Rangga Aputra, Refraction leads me to see something different in the leaves, 2025
    Refraction leads me to see something different in the leaves, 2025
  • Rangga Aputra, Essence of the nature, 2025
    Essence of the nature, 2025
  • Rangga Aputra, Supernatural Aura, 2024
    Supernatural Aura, 2024
  • Rangga Aputra, Amnesia & Memory , 2023
    Amnesia & Memory , 2023
  • Rangga Aputra, Rumination, 2023
    Rumination, 2023
  • Rangga Aputra, Convergence no.3, 2022
    Convergence no.3, 2022
Solo & Group Show
Rangga Aputra, Not far from home, 2025, Oil, acrylic, heavy gel on canvas, 150 × 150 cm
Rangga Aputra, Not far from home, 2025, Oil, acrylic, heavy gel on canvas, 150 × 150 cm
Rangga Aputra CV

 Born in 1995, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

 

Exhibitions

 

2026

Rangga Aputra - Recent works, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy

2024

Engraving Memories and Grasping the Lights, GALLERY HAYASHI + ART BRIDGE, Tokyo, Japan

After illusion: tropical echoes, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy

2023

Rangga Aputra - The order of chaotic lights, Primo Marella Gallery, Lugano, Swizerland

2022

Among the fireflies, Primae Noctis Art Gallery, Lugano, Switzerland

2021

Rangga Aputra. Artefact of Random Memories, ISI Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta

Rangga Aputra. The colors of the iris - Solo Exhibition, Primo Marella Gallery, Lugano, Switzerland

2020

Abstract Vs Optical 2, Primo Marella Gallery, Milano, Italy

Abstract Vs Optical, Primo Marella Gallery, Milano, Italy

OPPO ArtJakarta Virtual Art Fair, Sakato Art Community, Indonesia

Letter To Star Part 2, Julia Gallery / Langgeng Art Foundation / Vinyl on Vinyl, Indonesia

Re-Neo, Helutrans Artspace, Jogja National Museum Complex, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

U.need Studio for Humanity, Virtual Exhibition, Indonesia

Mini Sexy, Ruang Dalam Arthouse, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Aksi Aksi Join U Need Studio, RJ Katamsi ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2019

Japuik Tabao Jilid 3, Bentara Budaya, Jakarta, Indonesia

Incumbent Yogya Annual Art, Sangkring Art Project, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Formmisi Surau dan Rantau #3, RJ Katamsi Gallery ISI, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

International Exhibition Dewantara Trienale, Bale Banjar Sangkring, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Intention, Edwin’s Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia

Bebas, Sakato Art Community, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Transposisi, Langgeng Art Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2018

Kepada Republik #4, Lobby Gedung Nusantara DPR RI, Jakarta, Indonesia

FKY PAPERU 30, Planet Piramid, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

BAKABA #7 Zaman Now, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2017

Bad Video Art, A3 Gallery / Museum of Bad Art, Moscow, Russia

15x15x15 I Know What I Do and I Do It Anyway, Gallery Sumardja ITB, Bandung, Indonesia

Extrana Figuration, Muroluquido, Florida, Colombia

2016

Wayang Drawing Nusantara, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Bakaba 5 Cadiak Indak Mambuang Pandai, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Nandur Srawung #3, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Candradimuka, Museum Affandi, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Lupa-rupa, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2015

Disleksia Angkatan Murni 2014, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Drawing Nusantara, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Under Construction, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Art For Orang Utan Life Umbrella Species, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2013

YSRI Keren Tanpa Narkoba, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia

UII Youth Art Festival, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2012

Aku Cinta Pancasila, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Awards & Prizes

2018

10 Best Artists, Yogyakarta Art Festival PAPERU #30, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Judge Nomination, BAKABA #7 Zaman Now, Sakato Art Community / Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2016
Best Painting Award, Indonesian Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2014

30 Young Artists, PAPERU FKY #27, Yogyakarta Art Festival, Gedung Sasana Hinggil, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Top 5 Best Painting Impasto Technique, Indonesian Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2013

1st Prize Mural Competition, 50th Anniversary SMSR, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1st Prize Caricature Competition, BEM UNY, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

3rd Prize Sketch Competition, Sketch Out Your Life, Universitas Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1st Prize Sketch Competition, Maju Kedepan Mundur Kebelakang, Atma Jaya University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Best Artwork Award, Glory My Country Exhibition, KKNPPL UNY / Gallery SMSR, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Finalist, Young Painting Artist Keren Tanpa Narkoba, Jakarta, Indonesia

2012

1st Prize Painting Competition, Polda DIY, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1st Prize Sketch Competition, Vredeburg, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1st Best Painting Award, Best of the Best PPPPTK, Indonesia

2nd Promising Painting Award, Aku Cinta Pancasila, Galeri Nasional, Jakarta, Indonesia

2nd Prize Drawing Competition, Faber Castell Uniknya Kotaku, MSD Tamansiswa Campus, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

2nd Prize Cube Painting Competition, Yamaha, Atrium Malioboro, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1st Prize Sketch Competition, Revitalisasi Pendidikan, Universitas Negeri Semarang / Museum Ranggawarsita, Semarang, Indonesia

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