Joko Avianto was born in Cimahi, West Java, in 1976. He graduated from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD) at The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in 1996 before pursuing further studies in the Master’s Program at the same institution. Currently, he teaches sculpture at the Indonesian Arts College (ISBI) in Bandung.
Joko gained widespread recognition for his bamboo installation works, which feature intricately intertwined bamboo. He developed a new technique, which he named “module bamboo broke,” allowing him to create various bamboo-shaped objects without splitting the bamboo entirely. Through his use of bamboo, Joko prompts us to reflect on the depletion of bamboo forest vegetation and its impact on surrounding social life, including the loss of bamboo culture, diminishing creativity among bamboo craftsmen, and the transformation of their profession into roles within the manufacturing industry. For Joko, bamboo serves as a symbol of his concern about the cultural diversity of Indonesia being eroded by the industrialization process that has become the backbone of modern life.
Joko's works have been exhibited at the Yokohama Triennale (2017), Esplanade Singapore (2018), and most recently at the Redbase Sydney "Tumbuh" group exhibition (2025). He currently teaches sculpture at ISBI Bandung.
We pay our respects to the Gundungurra people who are the traditional custodians of the land. We acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging for their immense spiritual connection to place which was never ceded.