Survivor at Gosford Regional Gallery

Survivor: Dadang Christanto is a major art project by contemporary Indonesian-Australian artist Dadang Christanto. Initially developed in 2008 as a live protest against an environmental disaster that occurred in East Java which saw hot volcanic mud wipe out eleven villages and destroy many lives, Survivor has since transgressed beyond cultural borders, evolving into a universal, multi-faceted reflection upon human survival and what it means to endure tragic historical events, loss and death.

On April 1 Gosford Regional Gallery staged a two hour performance. Local volunteers silently occupied the gallery space in silent vigil, symbolically covered in mud and holding a photographic portraits of faces lost in the disaster.

Museums & Galleries NSW captured the whole day on video; interviewing artist Dadang Christanto, Aaron Seeto from 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sarah Samild from Gosford Regional Gallery and various participants in this extraordinary event. 






Regional gallery tour

Gosford Regional Gallery 

31 March - 20 May 2012

Lismore Regional Gallery 

20 July - 25 August 2012

The Glasshouse Regional Art Gallery
15 October - 2 December 2012

Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
1 April 2013 - 31 May 2013

Devonport Regional Gallery
1 June - 31 July 2013

Pinnacles Gallery
23 November - 15 December 2013

Presented by Kultour in partnership with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and toured by Museums & Galleries NSW. This exhibition is supported by the Contemporary Touring Initiative through Visions of Australia, an Australian Government program, and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian Government and state and territory governments.