Around 1,000 tiny hand-carved sculptures by Indonesian artist Toni Kanwa were presented at the Singapore Biennale. The installation, Cosmology of Life, invites visitors to look closely at the human figure and at the rituals, traditions, and worldviews that shape different communities.
An Art Exhibition That Looks Into The Human Soul
At the 2013 Singapore Biennale, themed If the World Changed, artists responded to questions about the future and the ways people imagine a better world. Kanwa answered with a quiet, intricate microcosm: hundreds of small wooden figures arranged across a light table, each with its own posture, expression, and presence.
The work rewards slow looking. Magnifying glasses placed on the table allow visitors to discover details that would otherwise be almost invisible, turning the exhibition into an intimate and interactive encounter.
Interactive Art Exhibition – A Microcosm Of Society
The individual figures were carved with exceptional attention to detail. Although the installation brings together a large number of bodies, the small scale of each sculpture makes the amount of material feel surprisingly modest. The contrast strengthens the work’s message: a society may be vast, but every individual still carries a distinct identity.
Kanwa’s practice is closely tied to culture, tradition, and long periods of research in Indonesia. In Cosmology of Life, those interests appear as a dense field of miniature forms that asks viewers to slow down, observe, and reflect.
1,000 small sculptures by Toni Kanwa
Each sculpture is carved with great attention to detail
An interactive art installation
A microcosm of society
The installation on the table
Small sculptures with a strong effect
Anna Lohan
miranda_shida
Theresa V. Adams
Peter Dark
