Hello Beautiful Souls, Sometimes the best things in London are tucked away and free, and this little gem at The Barbican was exactly that.
While I popped in to see the Noah Davis exhibition (more on that soon), I was lucky enough to catch Citra Sasmita’s “Into Eternal Land“ just before it ended. It was her first UK solo show, and wow, it truly made The Curve feel like an entirely different world.
Sasmita, an Indonesian artist, reimagines ancient myths and rituals through a feminist lens, creating a world where divine female energy reigns. Think of it as Dante’s Inferno… but ruled entirely by women, no men depicted, just powerful, celestial feminine beings. And I was here for it.
Her art uses traditional Kamasan painting, usually done by men and rooted in the storytelling of Hindu epics, but she flips the script entirely. This is a matriarchy in motion, alive with mythology, memory, scent, embroidery, and colour. You don’t just look at the art, you enter it.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Indonesian culture and mysticism, so this exhibition spoke to me. I also loved how Sasmita reclaims not just techniques, but entire narratives, challenging colonialism, patriarchy, and the roles often assigned to women within history and myth.
And even the space, The Curve at the Barbican, played into the immersion. Winding through its quiet arc, it felt like stepping into an otherworldly shrine, wrapped in stories we don’t hear enough of.
If you’re ever near The Barbican, do check what’s on. Whether it’s a paid exhibition, the lush conservatory, or one of their brilliant free shows like this one, it’s always worth stepping inside.
Until next time,
