Laksmana Ryol

B. 1993

Laksamana Ryo, originally from Banyuwangi, East Java, is a graduate of the prestigious Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Although still considered a young artist, his career began while he was a student, and in recent years his works have been exhibited widely both in Indonesia and internationally, marking his growing presence in the contemporary art scene.

At first glance, Ryo’s paintings appear playful and whimsical, characterized by pop-surrealist imagery rendered in an illustrative style reminiscent of anime aesthetics. Beneath this charming visual surface, however, his works engage with distinctly contemporary issues. Through carefully constructed narratives, Ryo addresses themes such as critiques of patriarchal traditions, the tendency of society to judge others hastily, and the fluid nature of modern gender identities and roles. This contrast between lighthearted imagery and critical subject matter has become a defining strength of his practice.