The playful spirit in the pop surrealistic exhibition HOMO LUDENS

The Surreal Worlds of Riki Antoni, Valdo Manullang and Fandi Angga Saputra

Prima Marella Gallery in Lugano, Switzerland, presents the new group exhibition HOMO LUDENS. The Surreal Worlds of Riki Antoni, Valdo Manullang and Fandi Angga Saputra. The three Indonesian artists use their unique visual and the pop surrealist language to explore how the playful spirit of childhood shapes human experience, creativity and the foundations of society.

The title pays homage to and recalls the concept of Homo ludens, theorized by historian and cultural critic Johan Huizinga – who stated that play is not just a distraction but a fundamental element of culture itself. Through their art, these three artists emphasize the importance of preserving the playful and imaginative elements of each childhood.

Riki Antoni (1977, Indonesia) is known for his distinctive pop-surrealist aesthetic, rooted in the idea that play is the purest form of creative expression and human curiosity. His work places the child at the core of artistic discourse: a symbol of innocence, exploration and boundless wonder. His figures seem to come from a parallel or dystopian universe and often feature large eyes that convey curiosity and introspection, inhabited worlds that mix elements of reality and fantasy.

Fandi Angga Saputra (1996, Indonesia) also brings a deep connection with nature to his paintings. His work is deeply rooted in his personal memory and vivid childhood memories of the rural village where he grew up, which allowed him to have an intense and direct relationship with nature. In his surrealist paintings, rendered in fresh, vibrant colors, Saputra brings to light an endangered world of unspoiled nature, slow rhythms and wonder of exploring the world through the eyes of a child.

Flora and fauna take on distorted and fantastic forms and imaginary creatures populate wonderful landscapes that seem to emerge from a dream or simply from the mind of a child who perceives the magic of the world around him.

Manullang stands out for his extraordinary hyper-realistic technique, expressed through a fascinating visual language imbued with symbolic depth. Through the skillful use of black and white, obtained with charcoal powder, and deep colours, achieved with oils and acrylics, the artist brings his imaginary worlds to life. Figures emerging from monochrome backgrounds are suspended in a dreamlike dimension.

Through his portraits, the artist explores the idea of collective growth, a shared journey that all souls make together in the great cycle of life. These “beautiful souls” are not just aesthetic representations, but symbols of hope, beauty and interconnection.

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