GIANYAR, DEWATA.NEWS – A contemporary art exhibition titled Roots & Routes has officially opened at Biji World in Ubud, Gianyar, running from May 3 to June 5, 2026.
The exhibition features works by three artists, Djunaidi Kenyut, Shinta Retnani, and Boel Vadag combining painting and documentary-based visual storytelling within a shared artistic narrative.
The opening event took place on Sunday (May 3) at 18:00 WITA and attracted artists, creatives, and members of Bali’s expatriate community, many of whom are part of the artists’ wider professional and personal networks.
In the context of contemporary art, the exhibition highlights collaboration as a meeting point for different ideas, experiences, and visual languages. Organizers describe the project as an exploration of how artistic exchange can create broader aesthetic and conceptual dialogue.
Djunaidi Kenyut, known for his long-standing artistic career and collaborative approach, presents works marked by his recurring cactus imagery, which serves as a personal symbol throughout his visual practice.
Meanwhile, Shinta Retnani contributes documentary-style visual archives gathered during filmmaking projects in remote parts of Indonesia, including communities among the Orang Rimba in Sumatra, Korowai in Papua, and Lamalera in Flores. Her exhibition materials also include journals and notes created during field documentation.
The exhibition presents documentation not only as supporting material, but as a narrative medium that expands the meaning of the artworks themselves.
Boel Vadag, whose artistic approach is rooted in poetry, develops visual works beginning with written words and emotional responses before transforming them into spontaneous yet structured compositions.
Djunaidi Kenyut and Boel Vadag also collaborated on several large-scale works, including Roots Correspondencies measuring 2 x 3.5 meters and In Between, The Seen and The Unseen measuring 100 x 2.4 meters.
Conceptually, Roots & Routes explores the intersection between personal origins and life journeys. The exhibition frames “roots” as living memory and “routes” as the evolving choices that shape identity over time.
Rather than offering definitive interpretations, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on their own experiences, personal histories, and future directions through a poetic and introspective visual approach.