Visual art serves as a medium of communication that extends beyond mere visual representation, conveying messages or meanings the artist aims to share with the audience using specific signs or symbols. This study aims to explore the symbolic messages in Bayu Utomo Radjikin’s artworks, specifically in his solo exhibition Ada Apa Dengan Tengkorak (2015). The main objective is to examine the structure, content, and functions of the message, with a particular focus on the key signs and symbols present in the artworks. Methodologically, the study employs qualitative art study analysis, incorporating in-depth observation and interpretation based on a conceptual framework which was built from several relevant concept. Data collection focuses a detailed examination of the visual aspects in the artwork, supported by literature from fields such as culture, history, sociology and philosophy. The analysis reveals that the skulls in Bayu’s works transcend their physical form to symbolize life’s impermanence, the endurance of legacy, and the balance between strength and vulnerability. The antler-like structures intertwined with the skulls reinterpret traditional notions of dominance, reflecting interconnectedness and shared human struggles. The use of dark, minimalist backgrounds further enhances the introspective tone, drawing the viewer into an exploration of identity, survival, and existence.