Iwan Effendi

Lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia | Born 1979
About
As the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Yogyakarta’s Papermoon Puppet Theatre, Iwan Effendi brings puppet characters to life with their narratives and emotions. His artistic practice spans puppet-making, painting, drawing, and performance, all grounded in a fascination with the memories and stories that each puppet embodies, even when their expressions remain static. This approach invites the viewers to have the authority to interpret it, and by doing so, they find reflections of themselves in the puppets.

His solo exhibitions to date include articulate, Mizuma Gallery Tokyo Japan (2024); preload at Mizuma Gallery Singapore (2023); Daydreaming Face at Ruci Art, Jakarta (2021); DRAWING withdrawing (2020) and Face to Face at Mizuma Gallery, Singapore (2019); Eye of the Messenger at Yavuz Gallery, Singapore (2011); and Two Shoes for Dancing at Valentine Willie Fine Art (Project Room), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2009). Iwan has also participated in group exhibitions in Bulgaria, Singapore, Australia, The Netherlands, the Philippines, France, Japan, the USA, and Mexico. He has undertaken residencies with the Museum of Art in Kochi, Japan (2015); Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia (2014); and Asian Cultural Council in New York, USA (2009-10) researching puppetry, visual, and performance arts.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2002 - 2004 Indonesia Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2002 Indonesia University of Education, Bandung, Indonesia
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2025 Once Was, ara contemporary, Jakarta, Indonesia
2024 articulate, Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2023 preload, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2021 Daydreaming Face, RUCI Art Space, Jakarta, Indonesia
2020 DRAWING withdrawing, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2019 Face to Face, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2014 Dia and His Secrets, feat. Papermoon Puppet Theatre, Bazaar Art Jakarta, Indonesia
2013 Finding Lunang, feat. Papermoon Puppet Theatre, ARTJOG13, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2011 Eye of The Messenger, Yavuz Gallery, Singapore
2010 Mwathirika, feat. Papermoon Puppet Theatre, Tembi Contemporary, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2009 Two Shoes for Dancing, Valentine Willie Fine Art (Project Room), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2006 The Last Fortress, Via Via Café, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2005 Menuju Matahari Terbenam, deket rumah coffee shop, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Selected Groups Exhibitions
2025 Art Jakarta, ara contemporary, Jakarta, Indonesia
Tanem Tanemaki, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
We Begin with Everything, ara contemporary, Jakarta, Indonesia
The Paper Menagerie, ISA Art Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2024 Sandiya Tirto Gunung, Tirto Gunung Art Space. Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Salon et Cetera, Ace House Collective, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
ICAD by the Bay, Indonesia Design District, Jakarta, Indonesia
Tidak Apa Apa, Gallery Yolcha, Osaka, Japan
NOW, Ruci Art, Jakarta, Indonesia
2023 Beneath the Layers, BAIK Art, Jakarta, Indonesia
wARTa #3, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pekan Seni Grafis Yogtakarta “INTAGLIO”, Kiniko Art, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2022 Distrik Seni Sesi 2: Berkelanjutan!, Distrik Seni X Sarinah, Jakarta, Indonesia
Broken White Project: Parallel Margins, Vinyl On Vinyl, Makati, Philippines
ARTJOG MMXXII: Arts in Common - Expanding Awareness, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
wARTa #2, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Salone del Sneakers, C on Temporary, Bandung, Indonesia
S.E.A Focus, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2021 How are we doing?, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
Broken White Project #4, Ace House Collective, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
S.E.A Focus, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2020 Jumping the Shadow, Sapar Contemporary, New York, United States
2019 Eastern Rhythms, History Museum of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
INTENTION, PLEASE!, Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2018 REDRAW III: UGAHARI, Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Folkloristics, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2017 Carte Blanche, Mizuma Gallery, Singapore
2015 REVITALISASI MUSEUM WIDAYAT, Museum H Widayat, Magelang, Indonesia
ARTJOG 8: Infinity in Flux, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
BETWIXT AND BETWEEN, Lir Space, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2014 Neo Iconoclas, Langgeng Gallery, Magelang, Indonesia
Jeforah, KotaLama, Jakarta, Indonesia
ARTJOG 2014: Legacies of Power, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Anachron -Light in Winter Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
ReDraw, Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2013 Print Parade: Grafis Minggiran, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Made in Commons, Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Salamat Po, Sangkring Art Project, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pameran Perdana, Krack! Printmaking Studio and Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Pertemuan Pertama: Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardjo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Frying Tofu, Soemardja Gallery, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia
Constellations, Blanc Gallery, Manila, Philippines
Stage: Life in Motion, Esplanade, Singapore
Pharmacide Arts: Seni Memberantas Obat Palsu, Langgeng Art Foundation, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Kopi Keliling #7, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2012 PAP Open Studio, Printmaking Association of Philippines, Manila, Philippines
NGUDANG, Kendra Gallery, Bali, Indonesia
ARTJOG 2012, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
JOGJA AGRO POP, Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Les Tonnerres de Brest 2012, Brest, FranceLiving Room, Koganecho Area Management, Yokohama, Japan
Living Room, S 14, Bandung, Indonesia
2011 ARTJOG 2011, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Mega Munny Festival, Plastic Culture, Jakarta, Indonesia
MENGINTIP LAUT, French Cultural Centre, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Circus Of Life, Esplanade, Singapore
Crop Cycle, Gallery Canna, Jakarta, Indonesia
TV EYE, indieguerillas vs happyvictim, Lou Belle Shop, Bandung, Indonesia
The Alleys of a City named Jogya, Primo Marella Gallery, Milan, Italy
IVAA Archive Aid, Jakarta Art District, Jakarta, Indonesia
2010 Indonesia Disjunction, Kendra Gallery, Bali, Indonesia
Draw, curated by Erik Foss and Curse Mackey, Museo de la Cuidad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
ARTJOG 2010: The Strategis of Being, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Six by Six Project, Charmingwall Gallery, New York, United States
Space and Image, Ciputra Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2009 The Rainbow, Sampoerna Art House, Surabaya, Indonesia
Polichromatic, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Survey #2, Edwin Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
2008 Freedom in Geekdom, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Kere Munggah Bale, Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Boys and Girls, Edwin Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Perang Kembang, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Wong Liya, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Komedi Putar, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Animal Kingdom, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
69 seksi nian, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Jogja Art Fair, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2007 Black Urban Art, Bandung, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia
T-shirt from march, Bentara Budaya, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
One Month Shop Eli vs Vippy, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
IVAA BookAid, Nadi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
Portofolio, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
100th Affandi, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Shout Out, FKY XIX 2007, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Superb Ambition, Senayan City, Jakarta, Indonesia
Agraris Koboi, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Get It (Wall), Lembaga Indonesia Perancis, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Soulmate, Art Sociates, Bandung, Indonesia
BOCOR #3, Rumah Seni Cemeti, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2006 Serangan Sendu Bulan Gerimis, Kafe Deket Rumah, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Midnight Mural Project, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Art for Jogja, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Yofyakarta, Indonesia
2005 September Something #2, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
republik Art, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Daun Muda, Galeri Padi, Bandung, Indonesia
2004 Halo Kawan Baru #1, Galeri IKJ, Jakarta, Indonesia
Tribute to Mas Tri, Kedai Kebun Forum, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
3 D Passion, Kafe Kecil, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Eksplorasi Cetak, Dialog Dua Kota ISI-IKJ, Jakarta, Indonesia
Ngerumpi di Mall, Trio Plaza, Magelang, Indonesia
Hari-hari Ceria Sewon Bulaksumur, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Murky Moral, Australia National University, Canberra, Australia
2003 Exploring Vacuum #2, Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Sound Garden, Gelaran Budaya Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Countrybution, feat Daging Tumbuh, Biennale VII Yogyakarta, Indonesia
2001 Komik Udik, Gd. Garnadi, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
Celana Dalam dan Alibi, Performance Art, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Residencies
2015 Hide and Seek, Museum of Art, Kōchi, Japan
2014 Light in Winter Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia
2012 AIR Koganecho, Yokohama, Japan
Manila Contemporary, Manila, Philippines
2011 Y-Fest, Circus of Life, Esplanade, Singapore
2010 Y-Fest, Esplanade, Singapore
2009 - 2010 Asian Cultural Council, New York, United States
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Collections
Tumurun Private Museum, Solo, Indonesia
Media
2025 Antara Dalang dan Posisi: ara Mengupas Asia Tenggara lewat Iwan Effendi
Author: Urakan Magazine
https://urakanmagazine.com/2025/06/20/antara-dalang-dan-posisi-ara-mengupas-asia-tenggara-lewat-iwan-effendi/
2025 Antara Dalang dan Boneka Pertunjukan
Author: Media Indonesia
https://shorturl.at/1ukFP
2025 Ekspresi Boneka Iwan Effendi
Author: TEMPO
https://www.tempo.co/teroka/ekspresi-teater-boneka-papermoon-puppet-1695732
2025 Once Was: Jejak Emosi dan Ingatan dalam Gerak Hening Karya Iwan Effendi
Author: Erat Indonesia
https://eratindonesia.com/one-was-jejak-emosi-dan-ingatan-dalam-gerak-hening-karya-iwan-effendi/
2025 Pameran Once Was di Jakarta
Author: Antara Foto
https://www.antarafoto.com/id/view/2540189/pameran-once-was-di-jakarta
2025 Pameran Once Was: Memori yang Bergerak Lewat Boneka dan Arang
Author: Hypeabis
https://hypeabis.id/read/49657/pameran-once-was-memori-yang-bergerak-lewat-boneka-dan-arang
2025 Pameran Tunggal Iwan Effendi di ara contemporary
Author: Kompas.id
https://www.kompas.id/artikel/pameran-tunggal-iwan-effendi-di-ara-contemporary?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=soc_hariankompas_foto_auto_traffic
2025 Perupa Iwan Effendi Gelar Pameran Seni Once Was
Author: Koran Jakarta
https://koran-jakarta.com/2025-05-31/perupa-iwan-effendi-gelar-pameran-seni-once-was
2025 Perupa Iwan Effendi Segera Buka Pameran Tunggal di ara contemporary
Author: Detik.com
https://www.detik.com/pop/culture/d-7904280/perupa-iwan-effendi-segera-buka-pameran-tunggal-di-ara-contemporary
2025 Puppets Without Strings, Bodies Without Certainty: Iwan Effendi at ara contemporary
Author: AroundAround
https://aroundaround.art/puppets-without-strings-bodies-without-certainty-iwan-effendi-at-ara-contemporary-627eb2646259
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Selected Works


how to dissapear completely

2025, pigment, soft pastel & charcoal on paper, 29.7 x 21 cm each (7 pieces)



dramatic tension #2

2025, papier-mâché, washi, charcoal, soft pastel, wood, fabric, marble, and metal, 80 x 25 x 22.5 cm



synchronizer

2025, papier-mâché, washi, charcoal, soft pastel, wood, fabric, marble, and metal, 120 x 30 x 23 cm



dramatic tension #3

2025, papier-mâché, washi, charcoal, soft pastel, wood, fabric, marble, and metal, 100 x 28 x 22.5 cm



dramatic tension #1

2025, papier-mâché, washi, charcoal, soft pastel, wood, fabric, marble, and metal, 100 x 26 x 23.5 cm



dramatic tension #4

2025, papier-mâché, washi, charcoal, soft pastel, wood, fabric, marble, and metal,
87 x 27 x 22.5 cm



Interlace series #3

2025, papier-mâché mask, washi, charcoal, color pencil, soft pastel on paper, 40 x 25 x 6 cm



Sequences

2025, charcoal, softpastel, acrylic spray on canvas, 93 x 170 cm



Manipulate

2025, charcoal, softpastel, acrylic spray on canvas, 130 x 160 cm



Dialog

2025, charcoal, softpastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed) 77.5 x 124.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)



Empty Space

2025, charcoal, softpastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed) 77.5 x 124.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)



Memory

2025, charcoal, softpastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed) 77.5 x 124.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)



Submerged

2025, charcoal, softpastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed) 77.5 x 124.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)



Scenery

2025, charcoal, softpastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed)



Half

2025, charcoal, softpastel on canvas, 165 x 90 cm

Cast No Shadow

2025, charcoal, softpastel on canvas, 150 x 150 cm



Gape

2025, charcoal, softpastel on canvas, 125 x 65 cm



Squeeze

2025, charcoal, pigment, softpastel, acrylic spray on canvas, 70.5 x 150 cm



Contact Point #7

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 75 x 37 cm



Contact Point #5

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 62 x 75 cm



Contact Point #1

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 62 x 75 cm



Contact Point #4

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 47 x 70 cm



Bird

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Book

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Chair

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Dog

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Mantis

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Tree

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 45.5 x 40 cm



Contact Point #3

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 40 x 50 cm



Contact Point #2

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 37 x 75 cm



Contact Point #6

2025, charcoal, pigment, soft pastel on canvas, 37 x 75 cm



Bystander

2025, charcoal and soft pastel on paper, 75 x 122 cm (unframed) 77.5 x 124.5 x 3.5 cm (framed)



Unbox

2025, charcoal and soft pastel on canvas, 85 x 95 cm

Simpingan

2025, charcoal and soft pastel on canvas, 200 x 200 cm



Unknown

2024, charcoal, softpastel on canvas, 50 x 40 cm

Obscuring

2024, 95 x 105,5 cm, charcoal, softpastel and acrylic on canvas

Gin

2023, charcoal, soft pastel and color pencil on canvas, 200 × 150 cm

Tin: Perplexed

2023, charcoal and soft pastel on paper, 56.5 x 76 cm

Storyteller

2023, charcoal and soft pastel on canvas, 90 × 120 cm

Exhibition

Art Jakarta

3 - 5 October 2025

Temu Tamu

18 September - 2 October 2025

Once Was

17 May - 21 June 2025

We Begin with Everything

12 April - 04 May 2025