Born in 1961, Nindityo Adipurnomo studied art at the Institut Seni Indonesia and the Rijks Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, The Netherlands where he was an exchange student between 1986 and 1987.Adipurnomo employs the use of cultural motifs and symbols in his art practice. In addressing the growing internal conflict he has in coming to terms with social and cultural expectations as a Javanese in the face of Western values, he increasingly uses the konde (or chignon) to express symbolically this tension. Apart from being decorative, the manner in which the hairpiece is fashioned reveals the woman’s status in society, whether she is single, married or divorced. Hence, over the last decade, the konde serves as Nindityo’s communication tool he builds his social commentary on gender issues in its various manifestations.
