Dance

Masriadi's bloated figures have become a signature style for the artist. They are an integral part of his artistic idioms which make lasting impressions, rich in meaning and expression for those that take the time to keenly observe his work. The figures often wear a mocked facial expression that is a fuse of an uncanny look and a faint sinister smile. Masriadi often addresses the issue of Tradition versus Modernity, the pace of development in third world countries and the commercialising of all aspects of living - an inexhaustible list which allows the artist to delve deeper into human nature and cultural issues.

This particular work depicts a man holding the hands of two ladies dancing in a line. The man in the middle, representing man in general, has a horn in one ear and out the other, probably attesting to his being pulled in different directions and hearing a lot of noise. The lady on the left has a pretty dress on with red lipstick, as well as a wrench stuck in her mouth which suggests the beautiful and materialistic parts of life, with very little to say and even less value to provide. As for the woman on the right, whose head is replaced with a light bulb, she might represent knowledge, and also the self-sacrificing suggested by her nakedness. Obviously man cannot live too much on one side. With these 3 simple characters, Masriadi paints a balance to symbolize an imbalance in the world. He addresses the societal issue of placing too much emphasis on the physical aspects of life - we must strike a balance between materialistic issues and spiritual ones and not allow one side to overstep the other.