Art lovers mourn the death of art critic Kusnadi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian art lovers are mourning the death of
\nKusnadi, a senior art critic, teacher, painter and photographer,
\nwho died at the age of 76 Monday.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi died at his home in South Jakarta from several
\nillnesses, including typhoid. He had been admitted to the
\nFatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta for more than two weeks. A
\nweek before he died, he asked to return home.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi was Indonesia's foremost art critic. In 1977 he
\nreceived the prestigious Anugerah Seni Republik Indonesia, the
\nhighest national art award. Ten years later he received the Asean
\nAward for his dedication to art.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi regularly visited exhibitions to keep up-to-date with
\nthe current art trends. He was still seen attending exhibition
\nopenings this year.<\/p>\n
Critic Sunarto Pr. called Kusnadi \"the old horse that has
\nforgotten how to stop running\", as quoted by Agus Dermawan T. in
\na book titled Kusnadi; Seniman, Kritikus, Pendidik (Kusnadi,
\nArtist, Critic, Educator). Kusnadi said he did not intend to stop
\nrunning.<\/p>\n
Kusnadi was born on April 1, 1921 in Kaliangkrik, Magelang,
\nCentral Java. He started his career in fine art by apprenticing
\nunder Basoeki Abdullah during the Japanese occupation. At the
\nsame time, he entered the Keimin Bunka Shidoso (a cultural center
\nduring the Japanese occupation), and participated in an
\nexhibition held by Poetera and the Keimin Bunka Shidoso.<\/p>\n
In 1950 he worked in the Art Division, Office of Culture, as
\nthe chairman of the fine art department. His main task was to
\ncollect works of fine art for a future Fine Art Museum, provide
\nsubsidies and aid for art organizations in major towns in
\nIndonesia, and organize local and international art exhibitions.<\/p>\n
He started writing about fine art in 1950, with an article on
\nthe first exhibition of the Indonesian Fine Art Academy (ASRI).<\/p>\n
Kusnadi introduced Indonesian art to the Second Sao Paolo
\nBiennial in 1953. From 1954 to 1963, he was head of the Budaya
\n(Culture) magazine. He also prepared an exhibition of Indonesian
\nart for the Asian-African Conference in Bandung in 1955.<\/p>\n
From 1960-1966 he taught at the Indonesian Fine Art Academy in
\nYogyakarta, and a year later he was assigned to head the Sub-
\ndirectorate of Fine Art, under the Department of Education and
\nCulture in Jakarta. In 1971, he taught at the Jakarta Institute
\nfor the Arts (IKJ).<\/p>\n
He organized numerous exhibitions and wrote many other
\narticles and books. He also had an instrumental role in the
\npreparations for the Festival of Indonesia art exhibition in the
\nUnited States from 1990-1991.<\/p>\n
Leading art experts have commended Kusnadi's dedication to
\nfine art and art criticism. Critic Sudarmadji proudly said
\nKusnadi was his master. H. Widayat, a painter six years older
\nthan Kusnadi, honors the latter as \"The Teacher\".<\/p>\n
During a discussion at the ARTeMEDIA Gallery Monday, critic
\nJim Supangkat said Kusnadi played an important role in the
\ndevelopment of fine art.<\/p>\n
\"Forty years ago, he conceived the National Gallery which
\nplans to be inaugurated this year. The collection he amassed is
\nnow kept at the Directorate of Art,\" he said. (Amir Sidharta)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/art-lovers-mourn-the-death-of-art-critic-kusnadi-1447893297",
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