Sinta Tantra

Sinta Tantra is a British artist of Balinese descent. She was born on 11 November 1979, New York, USA and spent her childhood in Indonesia, America and Britain. She graduated in London from the Slade School of Fine Art in 2003 ^[1] and completed her postgraduate degree at Royal Academy of Arts in 2006. In the same year, she was awarded the prestigious Deutsche Bank Award in Fine Art.^[2] She lives and works in London.

Sinta Tantra being interviewed in Bali. Arsenic Fantasy, 2009, is in the background

Influences and styles

Drawing strongly upon a vibrant palette influenced by her Balinese heritage, Sinta Tantra began her career producing pieces composed of intricately cut vinyl and painted designs. Reflection, symmetry and exotic motifs were common in early public artworks such as Isokon Dreams for the London Borough of Camden, UK (2007) and Party Surprise at Canterbury Christchurch University, UK (2006).

Her recent works continue with themes of pattern and geometry but increasingly use historical references, lifting colours and shapes from the 18th century architecture of John Nash to Hollywood films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Notable exhibitions and commissions

Tantra has exhibited in solo exhibitions with Monika Bobinska Gallery,^[3] London, UK (2009), Gaya Fusion Gallery,^[4] Bali, Indonesia (2009) and Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2014) and (2015).

Notable public commissions include those for Canary Wharf Group (2012),^[5] Liverpool Biennial (2012) ^[6] and Southbank Centre, London (2008),^[7]

Critical responses

Sinta Tantra’s work has been described as ‘exuberant’ ^[8] and her use of colour, surface and geometry has come to be expected by commissioners and collectors.

Miami Dizzle XV (2009) was purchased by the British Government Art Collection for display in their Algiers Embassy after deciding its ‘curved lines and geometric forms [echoed] the architecture of the building’.^[9]

Her larger installations are similarly praised for adding ‘colourful painted imagery' and ‘chaotic yet captivating images’ to spaces.^[10] Arsenic Fantasy (2009) was described as 'being inside a gigantic elaborately wrapped Christmas present'.^[11] Isokon Dreams (2008) was praised by the local Cllr Flick Rea who said, “The mural is fantastic. It really brightens the [Regents Park Road] bridge”.^[12]

Her interiors are described as being similarly bold. According to Jeremy Hunt from Art and Architecture Journal, Universe of Objects in Archive, Arsenic and Railings (2010) 'lifts the perspective vertically like the energy of a released spring and pulses horizontally around the room in endless optical trigonometric fugue'.^[13]

Her patterned floors have been described by Deutsche Bank Art Magazine as a 'vibrating carpet of colors'.^[14]

In May 2012, Tantra was recently interviewed by BBC World Service Indonesia on a programme called 'Tokoh' ^[15] a monthly programme which talks to leading Indonesian global figures in Arts, Sports, Science and Politics.

Public commissions

• 2013 Art Across the City, Swansea UK
• 2012 Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool UK
• 2012 A Beautiful Sunset Mistaken for a Dawn, Canary Wharf, London UK
• 2008 A Good Time and a Half!, Southbank Centre, Saisson Poetry Library, London UK
• 2007 Neon Tetra, Arrivals Art Festival, Camley Street Natural Park, London, UK
• 2007 Isokon Dreams, Architecture Week, Regents Park Bridge, London, UK
• 2007 Line up, Platform for Art, Piccadilly Tube Station, London, UK
• 2006 Party Surprise, Christchurch University, Canterbury, London, UK
• 2006 Emporia, London Fashion Week On|Off, 6 Burlington Gardens, London, UK

Prizes and Awards

• 2012 Associate member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors
• 2010 Shortlisted for the Jerwood Contemporary Painting Prize
• 2009 Courvosier The Future 500 in partnership with The Observer Newspaper
• 2007 Westminster Civic Award for Public Arts in London
• 2006 The Deutsche Bank Pyramid Award in Fine Art
• 2006 The Gordon Luton Award from the Worshipful Painters Stainers Trust
• 2005 Nationwide Mercury Music and Art Award Finalist selected by Peter Blake and Tim Marlow
• 2005 Henry Moore Post Graduate Award
• 2004 Michael Moser Award
• 2003 Dover Street Arts Club Excellence in Drawing Prize
• 2003-6 Paul Smith Post Graduate Scholarship

Solo shows

• 2010 Politics of Seduction, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, London, UK
• 2009 Arsenic Fantasy, Gaya Fusion Gallery, Bali, Indonesia
• 2009 Real Phoney, Monika Bobinska Gallery, London, UK

References