PRIHATMOKO MOKI

Pop Culture and Political Commentary

Prihatmoko Moki’s practice blends pop culture aesthetics, political satire, and historical narratives. Moki uses printmaking as his primary medium, valuing its reproducibility and accessibility. His bold, graphic style draws on comic art and street culture, while incorporating hybrid elements from Hindu, Islamic, and Javanese traditions. Moki’s work often critiques social norms and power structures, embedding commentary on identity, resistance, and myth. For Pasar Malam, Prihatmoko created Sekaten, a screenprint depicting the night market held by the Jogja Palace during the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday celebrations. This event merges religious ritual with cultural spectacle, combining gamelan music, wayang performances, and market chaos. Prihatmoko’s composition reflects this hybridity, layering satire and symbolism to question how tradition adapts and survives in contemporary society.

Think About & Discuss

Moki is interested in rewriting historical narratives. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, he uses historical myths and satire to discuss and re-question contemporary issues.

What does the fusion of Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic references suggest about Javanese identity? Does satire in art makes cultural critique more accessible—or risks trivialising serious issues.

Compare

Compare Prihatmoko’s practice to other south east Asian and Australian artists who use similar satire and pop culture reference in their works:

• Indigenous Australian artist Kayleen Whiskey or Vincent Namatjira Artists – Iwantja Arts Aboriginal Art Centre

• Yangon Burmese artist ‘Bart Was Not Here’ and Richie Nath 16albermarle - FF2 Artists Page