
Citra Sasmita
Bio

Citra Sasmita (b. 1990, Bali; lives and works in Bali) is a contemporary artist from Bali whose work focuses on unraveling the myths and misconceptions of Balinese art and culture. She is also deeply invested in questioning a woman’s place in the social hierarchy and seeks to upend the normative construct of gender. One of her long term projects, Timur Merah Project; Harbor of Restless Spirits was presented in Garden of Six Seasons, Para Site Hong Kong—a painting on cow’s hide reflects the Kamasan Balinese painterly language that Citra has been developing in her practice. It represents a geography of female figures, fires, and various natural elements, composed whimsically in an unfolding of pansexual energy. While rooted in mythological thinking with specific Hindu and Balinese references, the scenes are equally part of the contemporary process of imagining a secular and empowered mythology for a post-patriarchal future. Citra was a Gold Award Winner UOB Painting of The Year 2017. She was included in Biennale Yogyakarta 2019 and her solo show titled Ode To The Sun was held at Yeo Workshop, Gillman Barracks Singapore in 2020. She was also included in Garden Of Six Seasons, a notable exhibition presented by Para Site Hong Kong.