Five Excellent Sheep in Pursuit of Perfection, Sandoricum koetjape (Sentul), 2020
60 x 316 x 4 cm
23 5/8 x 124 3/8 x 1 5/8 in
23 5/8 x 124 3/8 x 1 5/8 in
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Further images
Framing: Archival Print on Diasec Tru Life. Paper: Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag. “Our system of elite education manufactures young people who are smart and talented and driven, but also...
Framing: Archival Print on Diasec Tru Life.
Paper: Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag.
“Our system of elite education manufactures young people who are smart and talented and driven, but also anxious, timid, and lost, with little intellectual curiosity and a stunted sense of purpose... heading meekly in the same direction, great at what they’re doing but with no idea why they’re doing it.”
— William Derisiewicz, author of "Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life"
Sentul (Kecapi or Sandoricum koetjape, from the Meliaceae family like rambai, langsat and sentang) is a native true to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. Its fruits are edible and full of vitamins B, C, potassium and phosphorus.
The yellow Sentul fruit skin is thick and tough hiding very soft, sweet, whitish and fleshy covered seeds. Sentul was never exported and is not known internationally. Traditionally used as a backyard plant, today Sentul is a rare tree and almost forgotten tree in its own native region of Southeast Asia.
In this work, Mamakan is using floating Sentul seeds as a reference to sheep following each other as school students without purpose. Except for the first seed, that seems to be rather hesitant and reflective. Perhaps thinking about changing direction?
Paper: Canson Infinity Platine Fibre Rag.
“Our system of elite education manufactures young people who are smart and talented and driven, but also anxious, timid, and lost, with little intellectual curiosity and a stunted sense of purpose... heading meekly in the same direction, great at what they’re doing but with no idea why they’re doing it.”
— William Derisiewicz, author of "Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life"
Sentul (Kecapi or Sandoricum koetjape, from the Meliaceae family like rambai, langsat and sentang) is a native true to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. Its fruits are edible and full of vitamins B, C, potassium and phosphorus.
The yellow Sentul fruit skin is thick and tough hiding very soft, sweet, whitish and fleshy covered seeds. Sentul was never exported and is not known internationally. Traditionally used as a backyard plant, today Sentul is a rare tree and almost forgotten tree in its own native region of Southeast Asia.
In this work, Mamakan is using floating Sentul seeds as a reference to sheep following each other as school students without purpose. Except for the first seed, that seems to be rather hesitant and reflective. Perhaps thinking about changing direction?