Slinat
Is our artist line-up for Tangi Street Art Festival 2025
Slinat, also known as Silly in Art, describes himself as a “citizen of the universe,” though his artistic journey began in Bali, Indonesia. Immersed in mural and street art since 2000, his practice has expanded to include indoor works and mixed-media explorations. Central to his work is a fascination with the absurdities of Bali’s ever-changing landscape, particularly its entanglement with tourism and rapid urban development.
Drawing inspiration from archival colonial-era photographs, Slinat reconstructs these exoticized images through a contemporary lens, exposing tensions between history, culture, and commodification. His work often critiques societal structures, using humor, irony, and layered symbolism to provoke reflection and dialogue.
Through murals, wheat-paste installations, and mixed-media projects, Slinat consistently challenges viewers to reconsider historical narratives and social hierarchies. His practice bridges past and present, blending local context with universal commentary. By transforming everyday walls into platforms for critical engagement, Slinat establishes himself as a distinctive voice in contemporary Indonesian street art, using creativity to question assumptions and illuminate societal contradictions.
Slinat is one of the invited artists for the third edition of Tangi Street Art Festival, held from 11–17 May 2025. This edition’s theme, Tri Hita Karana, emphasizes harmony in three essential relationships: spirituality, humanity, and nature.
Through Parahyangan (the divine), the festival celebrates spiritual reflection and artistic expression; Pawongan (humanity) fosters collaboration, dialogue, and community engagement; and Palemahan (nature) encourages environmental awareness and sustainability.
Slinat’s participation highlights his commitment to using art as a tool for social reflection. His work blends historical imagery, contemporary visual language, and site-specific interventions, inviting audiences to engage critically with local culture and global issues. By placing his murals within the framework of Tri Hita Karana, the festival allows Slinat to explore both human and environmental harmony, encouraging viewers to consider their place in Bali’s past, present, and future through the lens of art.
For Tangi Street Art Festival 2025, Slinat chose to work with wheat paste, one of his signature media, dedicating significant time to its preparation. Known for his commitment to addressing social and cultural issues, Slinat uses art to voice questions and provoke reflection rather than remain silent.
His mural, “M E N G U K U R K A S T A” (“Measuring Caste”), draws inspiration from archival photographs taken between 1910–1920. Observing the seated positions, body language, and social dynamics in these images, Slinat poses a critical question: have we truly progressed in our understanding of human equality, or are we still bound by subtle forms of hierarchy and classification, now expressed in modern ways?
By translating these historical references into his contemporary style, Slinat creates a dialogue between past and present. The mural encourages viewers to examine social structures, recognize ongoing inequalities, and reflect on their own role in shaping a more equitable society. Through his careful, concept-driven approach, Slinat transforms the wall into a platform for discussion, memory, and introspection, demonstrating how street art can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for change.