STONE MEMORIES by Theano Giannezi | exhibition catalogue

Stone Memories Solo Exhibition by Theano Giannezi

18 June - 4 July 2021 Presented in Krack Studio Jl. D. I. Pandjaitan RT 42 / RW 12, Yogyakarta

“Every man carries within him, unconsciously the memory of ancient civilizations Similarly, the stone is the fragment of the World’s memory.”

Carl Gustav Jung, Memories

In ancient civilizations, it is believed that the stones have witnessed the spectacle of life long before the existence of human kind, making them the collectors of the memory of life cycles. They carry memories just like humans do and the layers of information that are accessible to humans, help revealing the stories of our past or more precisely from their past.

They have the ability to record all the historical and emotional scenes they silently witnessed through the millennia and the “visibility of trace” encourages the perpetuation of collectivelyheld knowledge of the world.

Lahir dari batu | 200 x 73 cm | print on paper | stone | wall installation | 2021

In ancient Minahasa culture it was believed that the ancestral spirits were residing inside stones. For that reason it was very important to keep on giving life to their forefathers who had led the path before them.

This can be seen in their burial traditions during the megalithic era, where they used large stones formed as houses with engraved decorative ornaments. Creating an aboveground tomb, a type of sarcophagus called Waruga. Waruga itself comes from the Tombulu language, and derived from the words, “Wale” (=house), “Ruga” (=body) and “Maruga” (=dust). So literally, Waruga means “The house where the body becomes dust”.

The house-shaped tomb symbolizes protection and an eternal memory keeper, along with the enigmatic carved figures that have a means to glorify the divinity of their ancestral spirits. Furthermore, the way the deceased is placed inside the sarcophagus, resembles a baby inside the womb and plays a prominent role for the cultural beliefs of Minahasians as it bears the meaning of the beginning of life even after death.

During my stay in North Sulawesi I had the opportunity to come closer and study the sarcophagus Waruga. By observing this notorious burial site, the feeling that stirred inside me was a mixed of enchantment and grief. All this magnificence was fading out, swept away due to colonial occupation and religious doctrines, as it was considered paganistic. For this reason, I attempted to revive and transcend a sentimental message of these lost memories through my art practice.

The use of paper-cut and screen print technique in my artworks, as delicate methods, creates a metaphorical representation of the fragile remains of Waruga, contrary to the rigid properties of stones which are hereby transformed into a more vulnerable depiction.

In my search of creating connection between distant forgotten memories I attempted to give light to the ever changing collective believe. I realized that wherever we are in time, the meaning of Life and Death will always find a special place in our existence, regardless the tradition, the essence will live for eternity.

Karema 29,7 x 42cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Wale 29,7 x 42cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Ruga 29,7 x 42cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Maruga 29,7 x 42cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Lumimuut 59,4 x 84,1 cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Toar 59,4 x 84,1 cm Screen-print on Aquarella Paper 300g 5 Editions | 2021

Waruga 60 x 48 x 108 cm light installation paper 180 g | bricks 2021

Theano Giannezi is a visual artist. Her art practices focus mainly in drawing, paper installations and the creation of three dimensional forms where she incorporates elements of nature by engaging subjects as the pursuit of the meaning of human existence, with the intention to idealize it and explore its connection to the natural environment and the urban lifestyle.

She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1991 where she got her Bachelor & Master Degree in Fine Arts, at the department of Visual and Applied Arts of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2016). In 2019 she got the Indonesian Scholarship Darmasiswa and completed her studies in ISI Yogyakarta, majored in Wayang Kulit traditional puppetry.

Her artworks have been presented in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and cultural institutes in Europe and Indonesia and she has participated in art seminars and residency programs.

Complex Waruga Sukur | North Sulawesi | April 2021

Special Thanks