
The Barbican is famed for bringing some of the best exhibitions to London, and their brand-new offering at The Curve is no different, being an absolute must-see for art lovers. It boasts immersive installations, incredible paintwork, embroidery, and beyond—all redefining traditional practices to create an enveloping exhibition that feels super fresh, all while critiquing and acknowledging the past. Best of all, it’s completely free to visit, making it a great option if you’re looking after the pennies.
Entitled Into Eternal Land by Indonesian artist Citra Sasmita, the exhibit draws inspiration from traditional Balinese art forms, specifically the Kamasan painting techniques. Sasmita has reclaimed and reimagined these sacred practices, which are usually male-dominated, by placing women at the forefront of her narratives.

Dating back to the fifteenth century, Kamasan was used to narrate Hindu epics, with Sasmita reclaiming this masculine practice by dismantling misconceptions of Balinese culture, as well as confronting its violent colonial past.
Challenging colonial legacies and patriarchal structures, the exhibition offers a contemporary perspective on traditional culture by shining a light on female protagonists, who have historically been fetishised, suppressed or erased throughout Balinese history—and history at large.

The artist draws inspiration from a rich range of sources, including centuries-long histories of displacement and migration across the Indonesian archipelago, post-patriarchal society, as well as symbols of heaven, earth and hell across cultures.
This immersive exhibition is located at the Barbican’s beloved gallery, The Curve. The gallery’s mesmeric design allows you to explore these stories along a curved hallway, offering a 90-metre journey through ancestral memories, rituals, and migration stories—an almost dream-like combination.

On February 9, 2025, there will be an in-conversation event called Somatic Cosmologies, where Sasmita will delve deeper into the themes of her work and her current exhibition at the Barbican. There will also be a poetry event inspired by the exhibition, where young poets will share their work and overarching emotions connected to the themes.
So, if you’re one of the many art lovers in London, head on over to the Barbican and step into this immersive world that Citra Samita has created.
‘Into Eternal Land’ will be on display at The Curve in the Barbican Centre from Thu 30 Jan until Mon 21 Apr 2025. Admission is free-of-charge.