Ari Bayuaji Presents First Canadian Museum Solo Exhibition “Rivière de perles”

Installation view of Rivière de perles (Pearl River), courtesy of the artist.

Indonesian-Canadian artist Ari Bayuaji presents his first solo museum exhibition in Canada, Rivière de perles (Pearl River), at the Musée d'art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec. Curated by guest curator Sylvie Lacerte, the exhibition brings together woven works, sculptures, and immersive installations developed from Bayuaji’s ongoing project of collecting and transforming discarded fishing nets and plastic materials gathered along coastlines. 

Installed throughout the museum’s main gallery as a suspended garden, the works evoke organic forms such as lichens, mosses, and plant growth, creating a subtle environment shaped by light and movement. Through these material transformations, Bayuaji explores ecological concerns, cycles of renewal, and the possibilities of reimagining discarded materials. 

Drawing from his long-term engagement with environmental issues and material reuse, Rivière de perles reflects the artist’s continued investigation into the relationship between human activity, natural ecosystems, and the potential for regeneration through artistic practice.