Oototol (1930–2008), born Dewa Raram and familiarly known as “Totol,” lived and worked in Pengosekan, Bali, where he developed an artistic practice shaped by keen visual perception and an intuitive approach to image-making. Without formal education or literacy, he found in art his primary mode of expression, beginning his artistic journey after a chance encounter with the visionary Balinese artist I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih (Murni), who introduced him to Chinese ink, bamboo pens, and brushes. Departing from the decorative Pengosekan painting style of his contemporaries, Oototol forged an independent visual language that fused elements of traditional Balinese Wayang and epic narratives with political and psychological subjects, most notably recurring depictions of archetypal figures of authority dressed in white military-style tunics and caps—a motif purportedly influenced by the artist’s fascination with Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno and his iconic attire.The artist’s work reveals a deeply personal perspective while also embodying a spirit of national identity and liberation in the post-colonial era. Though Oototol’s work was not presented at museums or galleries during his lifetime, over the past few years his art has been exhibited in Indonesia, Singapore, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom. In addition to having his first exhibition in the USA at Fort Gansevoort, in 2026, his work was presented at Misako & Rosen and Fig. in Japan. In 2025, his work was exhibited at Nottingham Contemporary in the United Kingdom, Cc Art Foundation in Shanghai, China and at Jakarta International Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia. In 2024 his work was exhibited at ROH Projects, in Jakarta, Indonesia, and in 2023, his work exhibited at Nonfrasa in Jakarta, Indonesia.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
Oototol, Fort Gansevoort, New York, NY
Oototol: Luar Negery, Misako & Rosen and Fig. (in collaboration with ROH projects, Tokyo, Japan
2025-2026
Oototol: Luar Negery, Cc Art Foundation, Shanghai, China
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025-2026
I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih: Feels Strangely Good, Ya?, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, United Kingdom
2025
Critically Bali, Gajah Gallery, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore
MuMoToMo II, Gajah Gallery, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore
Art Jakarta, Gajah Gallery presentation, Jakarta International Expo, Jakarta, Indonesia
2024
MuMoToMo, Gajah Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia
There Is No Center, ROH Projects, Jakarta, Indonesia
2023
POWER, Nonfrasa, Jakarta, Indonesia
COLLECTIONS
Works by the artist are held in private collections in Asia.
PRESS
2025
“Shanghai Oomph 2025.” Mousse Magazine, November 14.
Meier, Annette. “Local Currents: Art Jakarta 2025.” ArtAsiaPacific, October 14.
2024
Chia, Adeline. “MuMoToMo.” e-flux. December 19.