Known for his whimsical knit and crocheted characters and his dazzling underwater landscapes, Mulyana presents Fragile Ecologies, an exhibition that features two life-size hand-knit and crocheted costumes, several Mogus (monster) creatures, and a series of sumptuously knit coral islands.

Mulyana’s work directly engages the audience. His immersive installations captivate viewers of all ages both with their fantastical portrayal of oceanic life and the attention to detail in his creatures. The enveloping experience underscores the precarious nature of complex ecosystems in the sea and examines the peril that this sanctuary is in as a result of global pollution levels and climate change. Because of his commitment to sustainability, Mulyana incorporates repurposed yarn and support materials in his process to minimize new industrial material production, and he recycles parts of his installations into new projects.

On a macro level, Mulyana’s profound concern for the eroding environment and our collective lack of care for the natural world both parallel the importance of self-care on a micro level. His message encourages a holistic path to self-preservation amidst a chaotic and uncertain post-pandemic world. While Mulyana does not overtly reference gender and sexuality in his intricate installations, the diversity of his colorful environments and spectacular costumes allude to the fluidity of human identity. His commitment to promoting shared values emanates from his spiritual understanding of human dignity, an outlook that honors the totality of creation. By constructing elaborate, magical worlds, Mulyana hopes to ignite our collective imagination to cherish creation and reveal the beauty inside each of us. -John Silvis, curator

Harmony 60 and Xenia, 2024, yarn, Dacron, plastic net, cable wire, felt, beads