Swoofone
Is our artist line-up for Tangi Instervention Program 2024
I Wayan Subudi Yadnyana, also known as Swoofone, was born on December 19, 1994, in Denpasar, Bali. He began his street art practice in 2015 and graduated in 2017 from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar, majoring in Visual Communication Design (DKV). Since then, he has pursued his own artistic path, exploring how traditional Balinese motifs—found in temple architecture, ceremonial textiles, and decorative patterns—can be reinterpreted through contemporary art. Swoofone’s work is a playful yet thoughtful investigation of form, space, and cultural memory, often blending ornamentation with abstract composition. His murals and installations have been showcased in Indonesia and beyond, including MBloc Jakarta, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, the Bali Special Project “Kalatattwa” at Soundrenaline 2019, and as a recipient of the Kelola 2019 grant for his project “Tabu” (visual mapping). Through his art, he investigates the balance between heritage and innovation, creating pieces that are visually striking while inviting audiences to engage with the richness of Balinese culture and its contemporary reinterpretation.
Swoofone is one of the invited Balinese artists for Tangi Street Art Festival 2024. Held from May 13–19 in Desa Pancasari, Buleleng, the festival shifted focus from Bali’s famous beaches and urban centers to the island’s northern mountain region. With its cooler climate, lush green landscapes, and serene lakes, Pancasari offered an inspiring backdrop for both artists and the community. The 2024 edition carried the theme “SEKALA,” a Balinese concept referring to the tangible, visible world. Through murals, performances, and workshops, the theme encouraged artists to explore real forms of connection—bridging tradition and innovation, locals and internationals, and individual creativity with collective experience. The festival featured collaborative mural painting, graffiti jams, children’s workshops, community gatherings, and live music, offering a platform for meaningful artistic dialogue. Swoofone’s participation highlighted his unique approach to translating Balinese cultural motifs into contemporary visual narratives that resonate with both locals and visitors.
Swoofone’s mural at Tangi 2024 drew deeply from his love of Balinese architecture and traditional ornamentation. For this project, he combined symmetrical designs with familiar motifs found in temples, ceremonial textiles, and local art forms. He incorporated the Batuan style, reinterpreting it with a modern, playful approach while respecting its cultural roots. Each line, shape, and pattern was thoughtfully placed, reflecting both the tangible aesthetics of Bali and his personal artistic vision. Throughout the process, Swoofone engaged with the local community, observing and learning from the surrounding environment, absorbing rhythms, forms, and colors that are unique to Pancasari’s landscapes. His mural became a fusion of heritage and innovation, a dialogue between past and present, while inviting viewers to appreciate the intricate balance between traditional ornamentation and contemporary expression. By deconstructing and reassembling these motifs, Swoofone emphasizes that art can be both a playful exploration of form and a medium for cultural storytelling. His work encourages audiences to reflect on Bali’s visual traditions in new ways while celebrating the island’s evolving creative identity.