Sinta Tantra

Sinta Tantra is a British artist of Balinese descent. She was born on 11 November 1979, New York, USA and spent her childhood in Indonesia, America and Britain. She graduated in London from the Slade School of Fine Art in 2003 and completed her postgraduate degree at Royal Academy of Arts in 2006. In the same year, she was awarded the prestigious Deutsche Bank Award in Fine Art. She lives and works in London and is represented by Salon Vert(UK).

Influences and styles

Drawing strongly upon a vibrant palette influenced by her Balinese heritage, Sinta Tantra began her career producing pieces composed of intricately cut vinyl and painted designs. Reflection, symmetry and exotic motifs were common in early public artworks such as Isokon Dreams for the London Borough of Camden, UK (2007) and Party Surprise at Canterbury Christchurch University, UK (2006).

Her recent works continue with themes of pattern and geometry but increasingly use historical references, lifting colours and shapes from the 18th century architecture of John Nash to Hollywood films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Notable exhibitions and commissions

Tantra has exhibited in solo exhibitions with Monika Bobinska Gallery, London, UK (2009) and Gaya Fusion Gallery, Bali, Indonesia (2009).

In 2011, Tantra participated in group show, Apocalypstick curated by Siân Hislop and Jeremy Willett at The Nunnery Gallery, London. It featured work by: Jonathan Baldock, Shane Bradford, James Ferris, Richard Gasper, Ludovica Gioscia, Siân Hislop, James Howard, Dunstan James, Bea Turner, John Walter and Jeremy Willett. The exhibition was inspired by David Batchelor’s book Chromophobia which explored the use of colour in the wider world.

Notable public commissions include the Southbank Centre, London (2008), Transport for London (2007), and Liverpool Biennial (2011).

Tantra has recently been commissioned by Canary Wharf Group to create a prominent landmark installation stretching across Canary Wharf to Heron Quays over the River Thames launched for July 2012.

Critical responses

Sinta Tantra’s work has been described as ‘exuberant’ and her use of colour, surface and geometry has come to be expected by commissioners and collectors.

Miami Dizzle XV (2009) was purchased by the British Government Art collection for display in their Algiers Embassy after deciding its ‘curved lines and geometric forms [echoed] the architecture of the building’.

Her larger installations are similarly praised for adding ‘colourful painted imagery' and ‘chaotic yet captivating images’ to spaces. Arsenic Fantasy (2009) was described as 'being inside a gigantic elaborately wrapped Christmas present'. Isokon Dreams (2008) was praised by the local Cllr Flick Rea who said, “The mural is fantastic. It really brightens the [Regents Park Road] bridge”.

Her interiors are described as being similarly bold. According to one critic, Universe of Objects in Archive, Arsenic and Railings (2010) 'lifts the perspective vertically like the energy of a released spring and pulses horizontally around the room in endless optical trigonometric fugue'. Her tiles turns floors into a 'vibrating carpet of colors'.

Public commissions

• 2012 A Beautiful Sunset Mistaken for a Dawn, Canary Wharf, London UK
• 2011 Dymaxion: Dynamic, Maximum, Tension, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool UK
• 2008 A Good Time and a Half!, Southbank Centre, Saisson Poetry Library, London UK
• 2007 Neon Tetra, Arrivals Art Festival, Camley Street Natural Park, London, UK
• 2007 Isokon Dreams, Architecture Week, Regents Park Bridge, London, UK
• 2007 Line up, Platform for Art, Piccadilly Tube Station, London, UK
• 2006 Party Surprise, Christchurch University, Canterbury, London, UK
• 2006 Emporia, London Fashion Week On|Off, 6 Burlington Gardens, London, UK

Solo shows

• 2010 Politics of Seduction, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, London, UK
• 2009 Arsenic Fantasy, Gaya Fusion Gallery, Bali, Indonesia
• 2009 Real Phoney, Monika Bobinska Gallery, London, UK