Agus and Nia Ismoyo are inseparable - they almost always work together. Nia, with her Western background - she came from the USA - merge with Agus Ismoyo with his strong Javanese culture. The two artists are united in their batik creations. It is not an exaggeration to say that they are the vanguard in the search for the wisdom of the traditional Javanese batik. Not only do they analyze the various techniques and decorative styles of the traditional batik art, but they also search for the philosophical meanings of batik, including the past wisdom and beliefs of the Javanese. Agus and Nia Ismoyo feel that much of the Javanese philosophy and wisdom are disappearing due to the frenetic influx of changes in the society. What now appear at face value as the continuation of the age-old traditions, are according to Agus and Nia Ismoyo merely superficial repetitions that no longer represent and reveal the deep and sublime meanings of the culture.

At the first glimpse, the belief and philosophy of Agus and Nia Ismoyo seem to be paradoxical with their position as personal artists. However, their very position as personal artists liberates them to search for whatever "value" they find important. It is exactly their liberating position that drives them to search for, and dig further into, the traditional values and spirit. Their journey into the past values, meanings, and techniques certainly results in many findings. As with other contemporary artists, they still have to make their personal decisions as they are creating their batik works.

Their efforts to excavate the rich traditional values - whether in techniques and designs As well as in philosophical terms - bring them to find the varied decorative styles of the batik. At times, they are able to update the ancient techniques by using methods that are more suitable for today's condition. Such skills, coupled with personal intentions and idealism, provide Agus and Nia with ample means in creating high-quality works - some of them are in the collection of prominent museums. This is the proof that they are indeed important artists in the context of the cultural identity. Through their batik works, they can accommodate a lot of things. They can pose questions about the meanings of being modern and traditional; about the wisdom of traditions; about the consequences of inheriting the tradition; about the dilemmas of being modern; and naturally about the rich traditional heritage of Indonesia. What Agus and Nia Ismoyo are doing is important, keeping in mind the disappearing ethnic traditions of Indonesia, without having the chance to be a part of the modernity in this country.

In fact, Agus and Nia Ismoyo are working not for a closed community that already understand the rules, values, and meanings of a symbolic system, just like how it was in the traditional living of the past. They are working first of all for their personal interests, and then also for the social realm of the contemporary visual art.

Asmudjo Jono Irianto

AGUS ISMOYO
Born on 1959, Yogyakarta.
Studied at Industrial Academy, Yogyakarta (1980-1984), Industrial Management.

NIA FLIAM
Born on 1955, in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Studied at Pratt Institute (BFA ; 1981).

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2000 "Songs of Ancestors", Maltwood Museum, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.
2001 "Segaragunung", Jakarta National Museum, Jakarta & Argasoka Gallery, Ubud, Bali.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1998 Tamsworth Biennial, Australian Textile Biennial, Newscastle, Australia, Travelling Exhibition.
1999 "Beyond the Future", Asia Pacific Triennial III. Collaborative work with eight Aboriginal batik artists from Utopia, Central Australia. 2000 "Songs of the Ancestors", Araluen Art Center, Alice Springs & Desart Gallery, Sydney Travelling exhibition of collaborative work eight Aboriginal batik artists from Utopia, Central Australia.
2001 "National Crafts Exhibition", National Gallery, Jakarta.
2002 "Trade Winds", Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia; "Batik of Change", International Batik Exhibition, Chamber of Commerce, Hannover, Germany, Smend Gallery, Koln, Germany.
2003 "Contemporary Batik", Dortmund, Germany.

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