Cak Kandar, the father of feather art<\/p>\n
By Ingrid Maack<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Seni lukis bulu (feather art) is being touted as
\nan emerging Indonesian art form, as the celebrated father of
\nfeathers, Cak Kandar, passes onto his students his passion for
\nnatural materials.<\/p>\n
The small feathered broaches, earrings and other creations now
\nbeing sold on Indonesian streets, alongside already established
\nart forms such as batik, can be traced back to the man who made
\nfeather art famous.<\/p>\n
Originally from Surabaya, Jakarta-based Cak Kandar creates his
\ntrademark feather paintings using the simplest of tools; a pair
\nof scissors, canvas, glue and feathers collected from chicken
\nsatay sellers and bird markets from across the archipelago.<\/p>\n
His works are an aesthetic and intricate combination of shape,
\nbalance and texture depicting romantic images and traditional
\nscenes from Indonesian village life.<\/p>\n
Nature is the palette of this self-taught man, who combines
\nnatural and dyed materials using feathers from colorful
\ncockatoos, parrots and the dyed plumage of the humble chicken.
\nProduction is a tedious task, with most works taking up to one
\nmonth to complete, but there is harmony and mood within this
\ndiligently applied detail.<\/p>\n
A harmony and mood which Indonesian art critic Sudarmadji has
\ndescribed as being consistent with the theory of Panta rei -- the
\nprinciple of movement and harmony.<\/p>\n
"The aesthetic concept is solved through the medium of
\ntechnical expression," he said in a written commentary on Cak
\nKandar's work.<\/p>\n
One of Kandar's works featured in his latest exhibition,
\ntitled Nenek Menjahit (Grandmother Sewing), is exemplary of his
\nfeather art style. From a distance this eye-catching piece,
\ndepicting a Javanese woman sitting and sewing, looks like any
\nother oil painting. On closer examination, however, one notices
\nit is completely made from feathers. It is only then that you can
\nappreciate the skill and beauty of Kandar's work.<\/p>\n
His works do not come cheap, however, and are priced between
\nRp 600,000 (about US$93) and Rp 800,000 ($123).<\/p>\n
Kandar has exhibited throughout Southeast Asia and Europe,
\nincluding the Netherlands, Germany and Japan. However, his work
\nhas not escaped criticism or controversy.<\/p>\n
Objections were raised to his use of feathers by the
\ninternational environmental organization Greenpeace when he
\nexhibited in the Netherlands in 1987. In response, Kandar is
\nquick to explain that birds are not killed for the sake of his
\nart. His other source of feathers are Indonesian bird exporters
\nand only from those birds that die while in captivity before
\nexportation.<\/p>\n
Ironically, Kandar claims his original inspiration for his
\nfeather work came from the work of the World Wide Fund for
\nNature, and that feather art is in fact a form of recycling.<\/p>\n
Kandar's feather work is often categorized by art critics as
\nfolk art or craft."It is craft and not art," explained art critic
\nand art writer for Kompas Ipong Purnomo Sidi.
\n"Because the medium and technique are the focus of the work, I
\nwouldn't describe it as expressionistic."<\/p>\n
Purnomo Sidi also points out that the comparatively short life
\nof feather art and the problems associated with its preservation
\nexclude it from the category of art. History has proved that the
\nmaintenance of oil paintings is comparatively easier; unframed
\nworks have the protection of only a thinly applied lacquer and
\nwill begin to deteriorate if left unframed.<\/p>\n
Cak Kandar also is known for his use of other media, and his
\noil and acrylic paintings are well respected in the Indonesian
\nart community.<\/p>\n
Cak Kandar now runs private art schools and workshops titled
\nSanggar Margasatwa (the animal world) in Jakarta, Surabaya and
\nBandung, passing feather art onto a new generation of Indonesian
\nartists.<\/p>\n
Born on Indonesian Independence Day of Aug. 17, 1948, Cak
\nKandar's latest exhibition featuring examples of both his feather
\nand more recent acrylic works coincides with the 54th anniversary
\ncelebrations of Indonesian independence. His exhibition, held
\nthroughout July at Hotel Ciputra, will be officially opened today
\n(July 22) by former education minister Fuad Hassan.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cak-kandar-the-father-of-feather-art-1447893297",
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