Banana King 2002

Nyoman Masriadi’s ‘Banana King’ employs a flattened perspective, with thin layers of paint, to depict a figure who seems to be simultaneously devouring and being consumed by a giant banana. The banana itself dominates the composition, a vibrant yellow against the darker hues of the figure and the cool blues and greens of the background. I love the way the artist coaxes all these different tones out of his limited palette. Look at the figure's face – the planes and hollows are described with what look like the most economical of means. It’s a really interesting combination of careful planning, and total intuitive chaos, and in my opinion, it really pays off. The raw intensity of the subject matter is really compelling. Is it meant to be funny or what? You get the sense that there is no single interpretation here and that art doesn't always have to provide easy answers. Masriadi's work reminds me of Philip Guston, not necessarily in style, but in their shared willingness to embrace complexity and ambiguity.